rt 


TOYMAKERS 


"  Daisy  kicked  her  heels  against  the  table  legs. 


THE 

TOYMAKERS 

BY 

CHARLES    FELTON     PIDGIN 


AUTHOR    OF 


QUINCr    ADAMS    SAWTER 
BLENNERHASSETT,    Etc. 


The  C.  M.  CLARK  PUBLISHING  CO. 

BOSTON,  MASS.,   U.  S.  A. 

I  907 


Copyright,   1907. 

THE  C.  M.  CLARK.  PUBLISHING  CO., 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  U.  S.  A. 


Entered  at 
Stationer's  Hall,  London. 

Dramatic  and  all  other 
RIGHTS   RESERVED. 


CONTENTS 


Chapters 

I  The  Little  Red  Mill 

II  What  Was  In  It  ?    . 

III  The  Stubbs  Family  , 

IV  The  Son  and  the  Servant    . 
V  An  Irate  Father 

VI  Getting  Ready  for  Something 

VII  The  Toymakers  Secret 

VIII  Sally  Makes  a  Trade 

IX  The  Little  Cot  by  the  River 

X  The  Tailor  and  Miss  Jones 

XI  The  Squire  and  the  Dressmaker 

XII  The  Captain  and  the  Milliner 

XIII  Prince  Mephisto 

XIV  The  Secret  Out 

XV  From  Boy  to  Girl      .          . 

XVI  A  Wierd  Incantation 

XVII  The  Vital  Spark 

XVIII  A  Supper  for  Three 

XIX  A  Debate  on  Matrimony    . 

XX  "  Little  Jack  Homer  "       . 

XXI  An  Impromptu  Concert 

XXII  The  44th  Hussars     . 

XXIII  Christmas  Carols 

XXIV  The  Underworld      . 
XXV  A  Forced  Confession 

XXVI  Driven  from  Home 

XXVII  Old  Hobblequinn      . 

XXVIII  Old  Pinch       . 

XXIX  The  Stuffed  Bear       . 

XXX  John  B.  Stubbs,  Son  &  Co. 


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2229059 


THE  TOYMAKERS 

CHAPTER  I 

THE  LITTLE  RED  MILL 

MIDDLETON-ON-QUICK  is  in  the  heart  of  Eng- 
land. By  that  is  not  meant  the  geographical 
centre — it  is  not  a  question  of  latitude  and  lon- 
gitude. Nor  the  centre  of  population — for  big 
London  would  then  be  the  heart,  and  head,  and 
lungs  of  the  nation.  No,  it  is  where  the  soil  is 
the  most  fertile,  the  sky  the  bluest,  where  the 
sun  shines  brightest,  and  the  birds  sing  sweet- 
est— where  men  are  noble,  and  women  true — 
there  is  the  heart  of  England,  and  Middle ton-on- 
Quick  was  not  far  from  it. 

There  is  no  wish  to  mystify  the  reader.  Mid-1 
dleton  was  the  name  of  the  village,  and  Quick 
that  of  the  river  on  which  it  was  situated.  At 

1 


2  THE  TOYMAKERS 

its  origin,  the  Quick  belied  its  name,  for  it  was 
very  slow,  being,  at  first,  only  a  little  brook  way 
up  in  the  Dunmoor  Hills.  It  ran  merrily  down 
until  it  met  another  little  brook;  they  were  mar- 
ried and  kept  on  their  way  rejoicing.  Then 
came  sons  and  daughters,  and  aunts  and  uncles, 
and  many  cousins;  so  by  the  time  it  reached 
Middleton  it  was  a  full-grown  river,  conscious  of 
its  strength  which  was  not  used  for  any  good 
purpose  until  Malachi  Stubbs  built  the  little 
red  mill,  and  utilized  the  whizzing,  whirling 
wheel  to  supply  him  with  power — and  for  what? 
To  make  horses  and  camels,  dogs  and  goats,  cats 
and  cows,  elephants  and  tigers — all  to  become  in- 
habitants of  the  Noah's  Arks  that  were  sent  to 
London,  and  all  over  England,  to  delight  the  chil- 
dren of  both  rich  and  poor. 

It  was  the  day  before  Christmas — the  year 
was  long  ago,  so  which  particular  one  it  was 
does  not  matter.  Dr.  Bunch  had  been  to  Dun- 
moor  to  buy  some  needed  medicines,  and  some 
gifts,  to  be  credited  to  the  generosity  of  Santa 
Claus,  for  the  little  Bunches,  of  whom  there  were 
six — the  eldest  twelve. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  3 

The  main  road  in  Middleton  ran  almost  paral- 
lel with  the  river,  and  Dr.  Bunch  scanned  the 
frozen  Quick,  expecting  every  moment  to  see  his 
son  and  namesake,  Benjamin,  glide  by  upon  his 
skates.  His  eye-quest  was  futile,  and  he  turned 
his  attention  to  his  old  horse  Peter,  who  be- 
longed to  the  stop-ever  breed.  He  did  not  wait 
until  he  reached  the  foot  of  a  hill — the  sight  of 
one  in  the  distance  was  sufficient  to  give  him  a 
partial  paralysis.  The  Middleton  boys  said  that 
the  Doctor  pushed  with  the  reins,  and  that  if  the 
Doctor's  gig  had  been  put  before  old  Peter,  so 
many  patients  would  not  have  died  before  he  got 
there.  But  this  was  only  village  raillery. 

"  Hallo ! "  cried  the  Doctor,  as  an  old,  doubled- 
up  specimen  of  humanity  came  in  sight  in  a 
cross-road.  "  How's  your  rheumatiz?  " 

"  Nor  better,  nor  worse,"  answered  the  old 
man.  "  If  I  eat  brown  bread  and  drank  cold 
water,  it  would  do  me  as  much  good  as  your 
drugs,  and  cost  less." 

"No  doubt  of  it,  Mr.  Bales,"  said  the  jolly 
Doctor,  "  but  as  you  prefer  to  eat  roast  pork  and 
drink  hard  cider,  you'll  have  to  pay  the  price." 


4  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  No,  I  won't  nuther,"  said  Mr.  Bales.  "  Send 
in  your  bill  and  don't  come  any  more;  if  you  do, 
I  won't  pay  you." 

"  Nor  will  I  ask  you  to,"  said  Dr.  Bunch. 
"  But  I  must  get  home,  so  Merry  Christmas,  for 
I  may  not  see  you  on  the  morrow." 

"  One  day's  as  good  as  another,  and  no  one 
of  'em  better,"  was  the  old  man's  reply,  as  he 
dug  his  pointed  cane  in  the  snow  and  walked  on. 

"  Get  up,  Pete,"  the  Doctor  cried  sharply, 
giving  the  horse  a  cut  with  the  whip,  which  un- 
expected attention  so  startled  the  beast  that  he 
gave  a  jump  which  nearly  threw  the  Doctor 
backwards  into  the  road. 

A  little  woman  clad  in  sombre  gray  was  just 
entering  a  little  shop,  the  windows  of  which  were 
filled  with  those  wonderful  creations  of  straw, 
and  feathers,  and  ribbons,  and  so  much  else 
called  women's  bonnets  and  hats,  when  the  Doc- 
tor's gig  came  in  sight.  Old  Pete  was  pulled  up 
with  a  jerk  that  gave  him  the  toothache. 

"  Good  afternoon,  Miss  Dunn  Moore,  and  may 
you  have  a  beautiful  Christmas." 

"  Thank  you,  Doctor,"  said  the  little  woman, 


THE  TOYMAKERS  5 

"  and  so  may  you  is  my  wish.  You  are 
good  to  the  poor,  and  may  the  Lord  be  good  to 
you." 

"I'm  sure  to  profit  by  the  holiday,"  said  the 
Doctor,  laughing.  "  I  never  saw  a  Christmas 
that  did  not  put  pounds  in  my  pocket." 

"  And  pains  in  your  patients,"  added  Miss 
Dunn  Moore. 

How  she  hated  her  name!  She  could  not 
change  it  in  the  church  books,  and  no  man  had 
offered  her  his.  Perhaps  if  Dr.  Bunch — but  to 
think  of  that  was  foolish — yes,  sinful.  But  she 
was  sure  her  right  name  was  Dunmoor,  and 
that  she  was  the  rightful  owner  of  nearly  the 
whole  town. 

A  stout  woman — "  fat,  fair,  and  forty " — 
stood  at  the  window  of  the  only  dressmaking 
establishment  in  Middleton.  She  saw  the  Doc- 
tor and  came  to  the  door. 

"  Merry  Christmas  to  you,  Doctor  Bunch ! " 

"  And  to  you,  good  Mistress  Merrily.  Years 
may  add  to  your  age,  but  you  look  younger  than 
ever." 

"  Oh,  lawks,  Doctor,  how  you  flatter !  " 


6  THE  TOYMAKERS 

The  Doctor  placed  his  hand  upon  his  heart, 
and  Old  Pete,  thinking  the  flirtation  had  gone 
on  long  enough,  and  being  a  strictly  moral 
quadruped,  started  forward  of  his  own  accord, 
unmindful  of  the  fact  that  the  Doctor  stood  up 
in  the  gig,  raised  his  hat,  and  made  a  profound 
bow,  for  which  the  widow  repaid  him  with  a 
graceful  courtesy. 

The  Doctor  was  nearing  the  little  red  mill — 
but  this  side  of  it  stood  a  little  cottage,  which 
in  summer  was  covered  with  vines  and  runners 
and  creepers,  while  all  the  old-fashioned  flowers 
our  grandmothers  loved  made  it  an  earthly  para- 
dise for  butterflies,  and  humming  birds,  and 
bees. 

In  it  lived  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larkin  and  Daisy, 
their  only  grandchild.  Had  not  Doctor  Bunch 
heard  her  first  infant  cry,  and  had  he  not  sat  by 
her  bedside  many  times  when  Death's  wings 
seemed  to  throw  a  shadow  on  her  pale  face? 
Could  he  enjoy  his  Christmas  unless  some  of  the 
gifts  beneath  the  gig's  seat  were  left  to  gladden 
her — eighteen — but  still  a  child  in  face  and  in- 
nocence of  thought? 


THE  TOYMAKERS  7 

"  I'm  sorry,  Doctor,  but  Daisy  is  not  at  home. 
She  has  gone  to  the  mill.  The  toymakers  have 
a  holiday  to-morrow,  and  they  are  all  going  to 
the  masquerade  at  Dunmoor  Barracks — Cap- 
tain Sabreton  has  invited  them  all.  Are  you  go- 
ing to  the  mill?" 

The  Doctor  shook  his  head;  not  wisely,  as  a 
Doctor  should,  but  in  a  disappointed,  dissatis- 
fied way.  "  Give  her  this,  with  my  blessing  and 
best  wishes  for  her  health  and  happiness." 

He  gave  old  Pete  a  vicious  cut;  this  time  the 
Doctor  was  astonished,  for  Old  Pete  stood  upon 
his  hind  legs,  lost  his  balance — for  he  was  not 
an  athletic  animal,  having  neglected  practis- 
ing— fell  upon  the  right  shaft  and  snapped  it 
off. 

"  Xow  you  will  have  to  go  to  the  mill  and  get 
Tom  and  Johnnie  to  help  you,"  cried  Mrs. 
Larkin,  and  the  Doctor  said  to  himself,  softly: 
"  The  man  of  wrath  is  sure  of  his  reward." 

The  sun  sank  low  in  the  West,  painting  the 
clouds'  with  those  wonderful  colors  that  make 
the  painter  despair.  The  door  of  the  little  red 
mill  was  open,  and  sounds  of  youthful  laugh- 


8  THE  TOYMAKERS 

ter  came  from  within.  In  a  few  hours  the  vil- 
lage youth  would  sing  carols,  and  the  bells 
would,  in  their  way,  sing  "  on  earth  peace,  good 
will  toward  men." 


THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER    II 

WHAT  WAS  IN  IT? 

OLD  PETE  remained  in  the  position  in  which 
he  originally  fell.  To  the  Doctor's  entreaties, 
and  even  to  his  actions1  which  savored  of  forc- 
ible persuasion,  he  turned  a  deaf  ear.  His 
master  felt  that  he  must  have  assistance,  and  so 
he  made  his  way  quickly  to  the  little  red  mill. 
As  he  approached  it,  the  door  was  thrown  back, 
and  two  young  men  came  out,  their  exit  being 
followed  by  peal  after  peal  of  girlish  laughter. 

One  of  the  young  men  was  tall — fully  six 
feet  in  height. — with  large  red  hands,  red  cheeks, 
and  red  hair.  Behind  him  came  a  little  roly- 
poly  sort  of  a  fellow,  not  more  than  four  and  a 
half  feet  in  height,  with  a  big  moon  face,  his 
large  mouth  drawn  into  what  appeared  to  be  a 
never-ending  grin. 

The  tall  young  man  was  Thomas  Bright,  a 


io  THE  TOYMAKERS 

nephew  of  Mr.  John  Stubbs.  The  fat  little  fel- 
low was  John  Stubbs's  son  and  only  child, 
Johnnie. 

"  What's  the  matter,  Doctor? "  asked  Tom. 
"  Horse  run  away?  " 

"  Never  saw  you  walking  before,"  added 
Johnnie. 

The  Doctor  gave  a  brief  description  of  the  ac- 
cident and  the  predicament  in  which  he  was 
placed. 

"  Oh,  that's  easy,"  said  Johnnie.  "  All  you 
want  is  two  pieces  of  iron  with  holes  bored  in 
them,  and  put  them  on  the  broken  shaft  and 
screw  them  down  tight  and  it'll  be  just  as  good 
as  new.  I  saw  one  over  to  Dunmoor  Barracks 
fixed  that  way." 

"  Much  obliged  to  you,  Johnnie,"  said  the 
Doctor.  "  The  only  trouble  is  we  have  not  got 
the  pieces  of  iron  and  the  screws." 

"Well,  we  can  get  the  next  best  thing  to 
it,  Doctor,"  cried  Tom.  "  I  can  get  two  pieces 
of  wood  and  some  strong  cord,  and  we  can  put 
what  we  call  a  splint  on  it,  same  as  we  did  when 
Daisy  Dane's  pet  chicken  broke  its  leg." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  n 

"  That  ia  what  I  was  going  to  suggest,"  said 
the  Doctor ;  "  but  have  you  got  the  pieces  of 
wood  and  the  cord?" 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Tom,  "  I  can  get  them  in  a 
minute,"  and  he  ran  into  the  mill. 

"  We  might  as  well  walk  down,"  said  the  Doc- 
tor. "  Perhaps  Old  Pete  will  get  up  and  run 
away." 

"  Kun  away !  "  laughed  Johnnie.  "  If  he  ran 
it  would  be  the  first  time." 

They  found  Old  Pete  reposing  quietly.  The 
combined  exertions  of  the  three  were  necessary 
to  induce  him  to  resume  a  perpendicular  posi- 
tion and  allow  him  to  be  detached  from  the  gig, 
so  that  the  repairs  on  the  shaft  could  be  com- 
pleted. 

"  Won't  you  stop  at  the  mill,  Doctor?  "  asked 
Johnnie.  "  To-morrow  is  a  holiday,  you  know, 
and  the  girls  are  having  a  frolic.  Daisy  Dane 
is  there." 

The  Doctor  wished  to  accept  the  invitation. 
He  wanted  to  speak  with  Daisy — to  wish  her  a 
Merry  Christmas,  and  look  into  her  pretty  face, 
and  hear  her  sweet  voice,  but  he  could  not  make 


12  THE  TOYMAKERS 

up  his  mind  to  do  this  with  a  lot  of  chattering, 
giggling  girls  hearing  every  word  and  watching 
every  movement. 

"  I  really  cannot  stop,  Johnnie.  I  ought  to 
be  at  home  now.  I  called  at  Mrs.  Larkin's  and 
left  word  for  Daisy,  so  if  you  will  just  tell  her 
that  I  did  so,  I  think  I  shall  move  on." 

The  Doctor  had  named  his  house  "  Quick 
Hall."  As  he  sent  his  bills  to  his  patients  once 
a  month,  Mr.  Bales  said  that  he  ought  to  change 
its  name  to  "  Quick  Haul,"  but  when  he  repeated 
his  first  and  only  joke  to  Lord  Middleton,  that 
gentleman  replied  that  Dr.  Bunch's  action  was 
all  right,  for  he  had  six  hungry  mouths  to  feed, 
while  the  late  Dr.  Springer  was  a  bachelor,  and 
besides,  he  had  a  government  pension  which  was 
sufficient  to  support  him. 

The  boys  went  back  to  the  mill  while  the  Doc- 
tor drove  towards  his  home,  which  was  half  a 
mile  distant.  He  had  not  proceeded  far  when  he 
saw  a  man  leaning  up  against  a  hedge,  an  ex- 
pression of  acute  pain  upon  his  face. 

"  Matthew  Quinn !  Why,  what's  the  mat- 
ter? " 


THE  TOYMAKERS  13 

Mr.  Quinn  was  the  village  constable.  Years 
ago,  in  attempting  to  arrest  a  young  scapegrace, 
who  had  climbed  to  the  top  of  a  shed,  Mr.  Quinn 
had  lost  his  balance,  had  fallen  to  the  ground, 
and  broken  his  leg.  The  accident  left  him  with 
a  marked  limp  in  his  gait  and  the  irreverent 
youth  of  the  village  who  formerly  called  him 
"  Mr.  Quinn,"  when  he  could  run  even  faster 
than  they  could,  now  called  him  "  Hobble 
Quinn,"  because  they  had  no  difficulty  in  elud- 
ing him. 

"  Well,  the  fact  is,  Doctor,"  said  Mr.  Quinn, 
"  them  boys  have  been  up  to  it  again.  They 
pelted  me  with  snowballs  and  I  ran  after  them 
down  Apple  Lane;  but  the  young  miscreants 
had  tied  a  cord  across  the  lane  between  two  trees 
and  I  got  a  tumble  and  I'm  afraid  I've  broken 
my  kneepan.  Every  time  I  step  it  cuts  through 
me  like  a  knife." 

"  Well,  come,  get  in  here,"  said  the  good-na- 
tured Doctor,  "  and  I  will  take  you  to  your  home, 
and  as  soon  as  I've  told  my  wife  that  I'm  safe 
and  sound,  I'll  run  down  and  take  a  look  at 
you." 


14  THE  TOYMAKERS 

It  was  with  considerable  difficulty  that  the 
ponderous  Mr.  Quinn  was  assisted  into  the  gig. 
They  had  not  proceeded  far  before  they  met  a 
natty  dogcart,  in  which  sat  a  gentleman  of  a 
decided  military  appearance.  Both  drivers  drew 
up  their  horses,  and  the  military  gentleman 
made  a  salute. 

"  Ah,  Doctor,  glad  to  see  you." 

"  Same  to  you,  Captain  Sabreton.  Why  so  far 
away  from  your  command?" 

"  Well,  the  fact  is  that  Squire  Goldfish  agreed 
to  act  as  one  of  the  patrons  and  his  wife  as  one 
of  the  patronesses  at  our  masquerade  to-night. 
This  afternoon  I  got  word  that  they  would  be 
unable  to  be  present,  and  I  came  over  to  learn 
the  cause  of  their  declination  which  I  was  afraid 
proceeded  from  something  serious." 

"  If  either  of  them  was  sick,  I  should  have 
heard  of  it,"  said  the  Doctor. 

"  Oh,  it's  not  a  physical  trouble,  but  it  seems 
that  the  Squire's  wife  spoke  to  the  rector,  and 
although  he  has  no  objection  to  an  ordinary 
party,  he  draws  the  line  at  masquerades,  so  the 
good  lady's  moral  principles  will  not  allow  her 


THE  TOYMAKERS  15 

to  be  present,  and,  of  course,  her  moral  principles 
will  not  allow  her  husband  to  be  present.  Of 
course,  at  such  a  gathering,  it  is  necessary  that 
we  should  have  chaperons.  I  wish  you  and  your 
wife  could  come,  Doctor." 

The  Doctor  shook  his  head.  "  Ah,  impossible, 
Captain.  There  is  no  day  in  the  year  in  which 
there  is  so  much  overeating  as  on  Christmas. 
My  services  are  in  great  demand,  and  I  should 
be  unjust  to  my  regular  patrons  if  I  deserted 
them  simply  for  personal  gratification." 

"  Well,"  said  the  captain,  "  I  have  one  more 
call  to  make.  I  sent  an  invitation  to  all  the 
young  girls  at  the  mill  to  come  to  the  masquer- 
ade, but  when  I  gave  it,  I  did  not  know  that  Miss 
Dane  was  not  employed  there,  so  I  am  going  to 
give  her  a  special  invitation." 

The  Doctor  did  not  vouchsafe  any  particular 
answer  to  the  Captain's  remark.  With  a  "  Good 
day;  Merry  Christmas,"  he  drove  on  at  a  slow 
pace,  while  the  Captain's  high-bred  stallion,  im- 
patient of  restraint,  dashed  forward  at  a  full 
gallop. 

Inside  the  little  red  mill  jollity  reigned  su- 


16  THE  TOYMAKERS 

preme.  Christmas  eve  was  but  a  few  hours 
away  and  there  was  to  be  a  masquerade  ball  at 
Dunmoor  Barracks,  some  three  miles  from 
Middleton.  All  the  young  girls  who  worked  for 
Mr.  Stubbs  had  been  invited,  and  there  were 
nine  of  them.  They  had  all  been  born  and  had 
grown  up  in  Middleton,  with  the  exception  of 
one.  Nellie  Clavering,  a  petite  little  creature, 
with  wavy  brown  hair  and  blue  eyes,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Dunmoor.  It  was  her  acquaintance  with 
Captain  Sabreton  of  the  44th  Hussars,  who  were 
located  at  Dunmoor  Barracks,  that  had  led  to 
the  invitation  being  extended  to  the  toymakers 
to  attend  the  masquerade. 

Little  Miss  Clavering,  after  beginning  work 
in  the  toy-shop,  had  come  to  live  in  Middleton, 
with  her  intimate  friend  Miss  Lillian  Bicker- 
staffe,  who  was  tall,  dark,  and  the  most  dignified 
of  the  rollicking  company. 

Mr.  John  Stubbs,  proprietor  of  the  mill,  had 
gone  to  Dunmoor  on  business,  and  although  he 
had  given  no  direction  to  that  effect,  and  would 
have  been  opposed  to  giving  his  son  any  such 
latitude,  young  Mr.  Stubbs  had  assumed  the  role 


THE  TOYMAKERS  17 

of  proprietor  and  had  given  to  each  of  the  toy- 
makers  their  choice  of  their  own  handiwork  to 
be  used  as  Christmas  gifts,  and  although  as  a 
rule  he  had  been  the  butt  of  all  their  jokes,  on 
this  occasion  he  was  voted  to  be  a  jolly  good  fel- 
low. His  cousin  Tom  had  taken  him  one  side 
and  had  whispered  in  his  ear  that  his1  generosity 
would  be  likely  to  lead  to  marked  demonstra- 
tions on  the  part  of  his  father  when  he  returned, 
but  Johnnie  had  replied  that  he  was  a  man  now 
— he  was  twenty-one — and  he  remarked  forcibly, 
but  ungrammatically,  that  he  "  would  not  allow 
no  father  to  do  nothing  to  him  just  because  he 
had  given  away  a  few  toys." 

Tom  shook  his  head  and  thought  to  himself 
that  although  Johnnie  might  be  twenty-one  in 
looks,  he  was  not  a  man  in  either  brains  or 
stature.  He  felt  sure  that  little  Johnnie  would 
get  the  worst  of  it  when  big  John  learned  the 
truth. 

Johnnie  was  a  little  suspicious.  "  Don't  you 
tell,  Tom !  If  you  do,  I'll " 

"  Why,  of  course  I  won't,"  said  Tom.  "  I 
wouldn't  peach  on  you  if  they  took  away  every- 


i8  THE  TOYMAKERS 

thing  in  the  mill — except  Daisy,"  and  he  looked 
towards  a  young  girl  who  was  entering  heartily 
into  the  fun  and  spirit  of  the  occasion. 

Daisy  Dane  had  a  type  of  beauty  which  the 
scientists  say  will  soon  disappear  from  the  earth. 
She  was  what  is  called  a  perfect  blonde,  having 
long  golden  curls,  blue  eyes,  and  one  of  those 
complexions  which  so  many  artists  have  likened 
to  peaches  and  cream. 

Tom  had  one  accomplishment — he  was  a  fine 
singer.  He  had  a  tenor  voice  which  had  not  been 
spoiled  by  over-cultivation.  Old  John  Stubbs 
had  encouraged  the  toymakers  in  their  singing, 
for  he  had  found  that  when  they  sang  they  did 
more  work  than  when  they  talked. 

"  Say,  girls,"  cried  Tom,  "  before  you  go  we 
must  sing  one  of  our  songs.  What  shall  it 
be?" 

"  Oh,  give  us  that  one  about  the  managery," 
cried  Johnnie. 

"  That's  so  silly,"  remarked  Miss  Bickerstaffe. 

"  Of  course  it  is,"  said  Nellie,  "  but  it  is  ap- 
propriate. We  make  all  kinds  of  animals  to  put 
in  menageries,  and  we  all  know  just  what  kind 


THE  TOYMAKERS  19 

of  noises  they  make.     I  think  it  is  a  jolly  good 
song." 

"  So  do  we !  "  cried  Ethel,  Mabel,  Violet,  Win- 
ifred, Agnes,  Louise,  Alice  and  Daisy  in  unison. 

With  a  bow,  wow,  wow, 
And  a  clack,  clack,  clack, 
With  a  meow,  meow,  meow, 
And  a  quack,  quack,  quack, 
With  a  too,  whit,  hoo, 
And  a  neigh,  neigh,  neigh, 
With  a  moo,  moo,  moo, 
And  a  bray,  bray,  bray, 
With  a  baa,  baa,  baa, 
And  a  wee,  wee,  wee, 
Menageries  thus  are  made  you  see. 

Then  followed  a  medley  of  cries  in  which  good- 
byes and  Merry  Christmases  predominated.  The 
company  quickly  separated,  each  one  intent 
upon  reaching  home  as  soon  as  possible  in  order 
to  make  preparations  for  the  masquerade. 

Tom  walked  home  with  Daisy,  while  Johnnie 
made  his  way  to  the  kitchen,  the  sole  occupant 
of  which  was  Miss  Sally  Smiles,  who  was  en- 
gaged in  preparing  the  evening  meal. 


20  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER   III 

THE  STUBBS  FAMILY 

MALACHI  STUBBS  built  the  little  red  mill  and 
began  the  manufacture  of  toys  in  Middleton-on- 
Quick.  He  married  a  Miss  Mary  Bull.  He  was 
a  patriotic  Englishman  and  was  proud  of  his 
wife's  name,  so  when  his  son  was  born  he  was 
named  John  B.  Stubbs,  his  middle  name,  evi- 
dently, being  Bull. 

Malachi  died  and  left  his  business  to  his  son, 
John  B.,  who  took  as  his  life  partner  a  Miss 
Polly  Ashe.  They  decided  to  name  their  son 
John  A.  Stubbs,  for  it  had  been  a  rule  in  the 
family  that  the  son's  middle  name  should  be 
that  of  his  mother. 

Everything  went  well  until  young  John  A. 
began  to  associate  with  the  youths  of  the  village. 
He  was  called  Jack  by  his  school  chums.  One 
day  a  youth,  with  whom  he  had  had  a  difficulty, 


THE  TOYMAKERS  21 

and  who  had  learned  his  middle  name,  called 
him  Jack  Ashe  Stubbs.  Then  his  fond  parents 
reflected  that  Christian  names  were  apt  to  be 
forgotten  and  nicknames  were  apt  to  stick,  and 
they  doubted  the  wisdom  of  their  choice.  Being 
Dissenters,  they  were  not  bound  by  the  strict 
rules  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  an- 
nouncement was  made  that  the  son  of  Mr.  John 
Bull  Stubbs,  Sr.,  would  afterwards  be  known  as 
John  Bull  Stubbs,  Jr.  The  point  of  the  joke 
being  lost,  young  John's  chums  decided  to  call 
him  Johnnie  instead  of  Jack,  and  he  was  the 
roly-poly  little  fellow  to  whom  the  reader  has 
been  introduced. 

Tom  Bright  was  a  nephew  of  the  late  Mrs. 
Stubbs.  He  was  a  strong,  healthy  lad,  but  he 
disliked  the  toy  business,  and  when  a  man  dis- 
likes his  work,  he  rarely  becomes  an  efficient 
workman.  Tom  was  nearly  twenty-one  years 
of  age  and  would  soon  be  free  from  his  appren- 
ticeship. With  that  disregard  for  ways  and 
means  so  often  shown  by  young  people,  he  had 
made  up  his  mind  that  life  in  the  future  could 
have  no  pleasure  for  him  except  as  the  husband 


22  THE  TOYMAKERS 

of  Daisy  Dane.  She  was  the  owner  of  a  little 
cottage,  and  Tom,  so  far  as  he  knew,  had  not  a 
pound  in  the  world.  But  love  laughs  at  lock- 
smiths and  the  lack  of  money.  Daisy  had  the 
cottage  and  they  had  the  love,  and  the  where- 
withal with  which  to  pay  the  bills  after  they 
were  married  was  an  after  consideration. 

Mr.  John  Bull  Stubbs.,  Sr.,  had  been  a 
widower  for  many  years.  The  cares  of  the  house- 
hold devolved  upon  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Smiles. 
Miss  Sally  was  a  mystery,  and  her  advent  in 
the  Stubbs  family  was  mysterious.  She  had 
been  found  upon  the  Stubbs  doorstep,  neatly 
packed  in  a  basket,  with  no  word  to  indicate 
from  where  she  came  or  who  were  her  parents. 
Mrs.  Stubbs  had  a  motherly  heart  and  insisted 
upon  the  little  stranger  being  taken  in.  Little 
Johnnie  was  two  years  old  at  the  time,  but  his 
mother  said  he  was  only  a  baby,  and  she  could 
take  care  of  two  just  as  well  as  one;  so  little 
Johnnie  and  little  Sally  grew  up  together  as 
brother  and  sister,  but  Johnnie  was  much 
pleased  when  he  grew  older  to  learn  that  Sally 
was  not  his  sister,  for  his  heart  had  been  filled 


THE  TOYMAKERS  23 

with  a  divine  passion,  and  he  felt  as  did  his 
cousin  Tom — that  there  was  only  one  girl  in 
the  world  for  him,  and  that  girl  was  Sally. 

It  cannot  truly  be  said  that  his  affection  was 
reciprocated;  in  fact,  Miss  Sally  looked  upon 
him  as  an  antagonist  rather  than  as  a  lover.  But 
Johnnie  looked  upon  their  wordy  and  often 
fistic  contests  as  mere  love  spats  and  was  de- 
termined to  make  her  his  wife,  although  he  knew 
that  such  a  course  would  be  in  direct  opposition 
to  his  father's  wishes. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  few  people  ever  did  any- 
thing that  pleased  John  Bull  Stubbs,  Sr.  He 
was  what  would  be  called  a  crank.  Old  Mala- 
chi  had  been  satisfied  to  cut  toys  out  of  wood, 
paint  them  impossible  colors,  and  put  them  into 
arks  which  would  have  sunk  had  they  been 
placed  in  water.  Soon  after  John  Bull  Stubbs, 
Sr.,  took  control  of  the  business,  however,  me- 
chanical toys  came  into  the  market,  and  it  be- 
came necessary  to  insert  springs  and  wheels 
and  squeaks  in  order  to  meet  the  demands  of 
the  more  modern  trade.  Mr.  John  B.  Stubbs, 
Sr.,  was  long-headed,  and  he  felt  sure  that  the 


24  THE  TOYMAKERS 

mechanical  toy  would  be  followed  by  something 
more  complex,  more  scientific,  and  more  satis- 
factory to  the  young  generation.  For  that  rea- 
son he  had  given  much  time  to  the  study  of  elec- 
tricity and  its  application  to  toys. 

A  man  with  one  idea  is  apt  to  be  a  very  dis- 
agreeable companion,  and  it  is  probable  because 
John  B.  Stubbs,  Sr.,  was  so  good  an  inventor 
that  he  was  so  unsatisfactory  as  a  mere  man. 
Electricity  was  his  hobby,  and  when  a  man  has 
a  hobby  he  rides  it  to  the  exclusion  of  all  other 
duties. 

The  necessary  expenditure  of  money  to  per- 
fect his  inventions  had  so  drawn  upon  his  in- 
come that  he  had  become  niggardly  in  his  house- 
hold expenses.  He  showed  no  disposition  to 
stint  his  son  and  heir,  but  he  looked  upon  Tom 
as  a  near  approach  to  a  hog,  as  regarded  his 
appetite,  and  upon  Sally  as  very  much  of  a  pig. 
It  is  hard,  however,  for  the  male  head  of  a  house- 
hold to  learn  all  the  intricacies  of  the  food 
problem,  and  although  the  table  was  set  spar- 
ingly, Miss  Smiles  had  improvised  a  larder  in  a 
far-away  closet,  the  contents  of  which  were 


THE  TOYMAKERS  25 

known  only  to  herself  and  Tom,  and  to  the  door 
of  which  she  had  the  only  key.  One  day  the 
owner,  Mr.  Stubbs,  had  shown  a  disposition  to 
utilize  the  closet,  but  Sally  had  remonstrated, 
saying  that  she  kept  her  brooms  and  brushes 
therein,  and  so  she  did,  but  they  were  not  kept 
upon  the  shelves  with  which  the  closet  was  liber- 
ally supplied. 

The  business  had  prospered  Old  Malachi 
had  carried  on  the  business  with  the  help  only 
of  his  wife  and  one  assistant,  but  his  son  had  so 
'broadened  the  outlet  for  his  goods,  that  his 
nephew  and  nine  young  girls  were  given  con- 
stant employment. 

The  reader  has  now  become  acquainted  with 
the  locale  of  the  story  and  with  the  principal 
personages  therein,  but  if  he  were  a  person 
prone  to  flights  of  the  wildest  imagination,  he 
could  not  have  conceived  such  a  series  of  events 
as  took  place  within  the  little  red  mill  within 
the  next  forty-eight  hours,  and  which  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  writer  to  record  as  best  he  may,  as- 
suming, however,  no  responsibility  whatever  for 
the  goings  on  or  the  result  of  them. 


26  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER    IV 

THE  SON  AND  THE  SERVANT 

TOM  did  not  go  to  the  kitchen,  for  he  knew 
Sally  was  under  strict  orders  not  to  give  him 
anything  to  eat  except  at  meal  time,  and  then 
Mr.  Stubbs  Senior's  sharp  eyes  quickly  dis- 
cerned any  indulgence  that  might  be  called  over- 
eating. Tom  had  had  a  key  made  to  the  closet 
where  Sally  kept  her  brooms  and  brushes  and 
"  something  else,"  and  he  made  his  way  thither, 
soliloquizing  as  he  went :  "  Uncle  Bull  hasn't 
got  back  yet,  lucky  for  me.  I'm  as  hungry  as 
an  ostrich.  Funny  Uncle  Bull  stays  away  so 
long.  He's  usually  on  hand  to  see  that  nobody 
gof»  home  a  minute  early.  I  suppose  he's  buying 
presents  for  his  beautiful  son,  John  Junior. 
Precious  little  will  Sally  or  I  get  for  our  hard 
work." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  27 

At  that  moment  Johnnie's  voice  rose  high  in 
the  air:  "Sally!  Sally!!  Sally!!!" 

Tom,  who  had  opened  the  closet  door  and  ex- 
tracted a  hunk  of  Bologna  sausage,  some  barley 
bread,  and  a  bowl  of  pickled  cabbage,  burst  into 
a  loud  laugh. 

"  There  he  is — the  beloved  child — the  only 
son  and  heir.  I've  heard  of  sons  being  called 
chips  of  the  old  block,  but  John  Junior  is  a 
bigger  blockhead  than  his  old  chip  of  a  father — 
not  meaning  to  be  disrespectful  to  my  uncle." 

Johnnie  had  reached  the  kitchen  as  Sally's 
shrill  voice  attested :  "  Go  away,  John  Junior ! 
Stop  your  fooling ! !  Let  me  alone,  I  say,  or  I'll 
slap  you ! ! ! " 

Tom  chuckled.  "  Johnnie  and  Sally  are  at  it 
again.  They're  always  quarreling,  then  making 
up.  They  say  true  lovers  always  do  that — but 
I  never  quarrel  with  Daisy.  I  never  quarrel 
with  anybody  or  anything  but  my  stomach. 
That  is  always  telling  me  that  I  don't  treat  it 
well." 

"John  Junior,  take  that!" 

There  was  a  sound  that  made  Tom  think  of 


28  THE  TOYMAKERS 

an  interview  he  had  with  the  schoolmaster,  when 
his  ears  tingled  for  a  whole  day — then  the 
kitchen  door  was  slammed  and  he  heard  no 
more. 

Tom  took  the  last  spoonful  of  cabbage. 
"  Uncle  Bull  says  over-feeding  makes  me  lazy. 
Lazy?  Why,  I'm  so  weak  sometimes  I  haven't 
got  strength  enough  to  eat  a  good  square  meal — 
if  I  could  get  it." 

He  closed  and  locked  the  closet  door.  "  I 
feel  better  now.  My  lunch  may  give  me  an 
appetite  for  the  fine  Christmas  supper  I  am  go- 
ing to  have  with  my  Daisy  to-night,  before  we  go 
to  the  masquerade  at  Dunmoor  Barracks.  I'll 
go  up  to  Toby  Whackers's  and  see  if  he  has  my 
costume  ready." 

Exciting  events  had  taken  place  in  the 
kitchen.  Sally's  cries  had  not  deterred  Johnnie 
from  chasing  and  catching  her.  Her  capture 
was  followed  by  energetic  hugs  and  resounding 
kisses.  Sally  struggled  and  finally  broke  away 
from  her  impetuous  captor.  She  faced  him  with 
reddened  cheeks,  disordered  tresses,  and  an  an- 
gry gleam  in  her  eyes. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  29 

"  Keep  away  from  me !  Let  me  alone,  I  say ! 
John  Junior,  you  act  like  a  great  big  calf!" 

Johnnie  clasped  his  hands  in  front  of  him, 
looked  downward,  and  said,  humbly :  "  I  can't 
help  it,  Sally.  Them's  the  symptoms." 

Sally  laughed  derisively :  "  Symptoms !  Symp- 
toms of  what?  It  can't  be  commonsense." 

"  No,  Sally ;  it's  something  that  comes  up  in 
my  throat."  He  ran  out  his  tongue  to  show  his 
condition. 

Sally  turned  her  back  on  him. 

"  I  can't  eat  as  much  as  I  used  to,  Sally ;  I 
can't  work!  I  can't  sleep  nights  for  thinking  of 
you.  Oh,  Sally,  it's  love — love — love ! " 

As  he  finished  his  avowal  he  struck  an  atti- 
tude and  looked  unutterable  things  at  Sally, 
who  had  faced  him  again. 

"  John  Stubbs,  you  needn't  waste  your  time 
falling  in  love  with  me.  Rich  men's  sons 
don't  usually  marry  their  father's  servants." 
She  continued  spitefully :  "  You  needn't  think 
you  can  bamboozle  me  just  because  your  father 
has  got  money.  I'm  only  a  waif.  Who  knows 
what  I  am?  I  was  named  Sarah  Ann  after  your 


30  THE  TOYMAKERS 

grandmother,  the  dear  old  soul !  She  loved  me, 
and  just  because  I  laughed  when  they  took  me 
out  of  the  basket,  they  called  me  Smiles — but 
my  smiles  are  not  for  you,  young  man,  and 
money  can't  buy  them." 

Johnnie  had  mounted  a  chair  and  was  sitting 
on  the  back  of  it.  "  Money  ain't  bad  to  take, 
Sally;  it  makes  a  fellow  popular  with  the  girls." 

Sally  pouted :    "  Money  ain't  everything." 

"  No,  Sally,  'tain't — but  it's  a  mighty  handy 
thing  to  have  in  your  trousers  pocket." 

Sally  relented  slightly :  "  Oh,  the  money's  all 
right,  with  something  attractive  to  go  with  it; 
but  before  a  boy  like  you  thinks  of  getting  mar- 
ried, he  ought  to  grow  up,  and  beg,  borrow,  or 
steal  some  brains." 

Johnnie  tilted  his  chair  too  far  backwards. 
It  tipped  over  and  he  went  sprawling  upon  the 
floor.  As  he  scrambled  to  his  feet,  full  of  in- 
dignation, and  with  an  aching  crazy-bone,  he 
cried :  "  Don't  you  call  me  a  boy,  Sarah  Ann !  " 

It  was  just  time  for  Sally's  hot  temper  to  rise : 
"  Don't  you  call  me  Sarah  Ann.  You  never  do, 
except  when  you're  mad  with  me.  You're  a 


THE  TOYMAKERS  31 

mean  little  sawed-off,  and  I  hate  you.  I  say  I 
hate  you." 

Johnnie  could  only  ejaculate :  "  Oh,  you're 
only  a — " 

Sally  did  not  allow  him  to  finish  the  sentence : 
"  I  know  what  I  am — I'm  only  a  servant.  Your 
father  calls  me  a  scullion — and  I  know  what  you 
are — and  you  mean  to  deceive  me,  you  do."  At 
this  point  her  temper  over-stepped  all  bounds, 
and  she  screamed :  "  But  don't  you  imagine, 
young  Bull,  just  because  you're  old  Bull's  son 
that  you  can  pull  the  wool  over  my  eyes." 

Johnnie  was  afraid  that  his  father  had  re- 
turned and  would  hear  their  altercation :  "  I'll 
stuff  something  down  your  throat,  Sally,  if  you 
don't  stop  your  noise." 

His  threat  did  not  abate  her  passion,  but  in- 
flamed it  still  more:  "  You  love  me,  don't  you? 
You'd  choke  me  to  death,  wouldn't  you?  You're 
a  fine  young  gentleman,  ain't  you,  to  abuse  a 
nice  little  girl  like  me?  " 

Then,  womanlike,  she  burst  into  tears,  and 
heart-broken  sobs  were  heard  instead  of  harsh 
words. 


32  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Johnnie  was  visibly  affected.  He  turned 
away  to  swallow  a  big  lump  in  his  throat. 

"  Poor  thing !  She's  gone  all  to  pieces !  Too 
bad!"  Then  he  turned  supplicatingly  to  the 
weeping  damsel.  "  Ssh !  Sally,  please  stop 
you're  noise.  Dad'll  hear." 

Sally  stamped  her  foot.  "  No,  I  won't.  I 
don't  care  if  he  does." 

Johnnie  patted  her  on  the  shoulder.  "  Stop, 
Sally — that's  a  good  girl — Sally  dear." 

Sally  glanced  at  John  through  her  tears. 
"  Don't  talk  that  way  to  me  unless  you  really 
mean  it — which,  way  down  in  you're  heart,  you 
know  you  don't." 

Johnnie  felt  that  now  was  the  moment  for  a 
reconciliation.  He  took  Sally's  half-resisting 
hand  in  his :  "  Yes,  I  do,  Sally.  Didn't  you  know 
it?  Of  course  you've  suspected." 

Sally  drew  back  her  hand.  "  No,  I  didn't.  If 
you  deceive  me,  John  Stubbs,  I'll  make  you  pay 
for  breach  of  promise,"  and  her  voice  was  raised 
to  its  highest  pitch. 

Johnnie  squeezed  her  arm :  "  Ssh !  Sally ! 
Dad  may  come  in." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  33 

"  Yes,  and  how  quick  you'd  change  your  mind 
if  he  did.  He  would  never  give  his  consent,  and 
then  you'd  throw  me  overboard." 

Johnnie  dropped  upon  his  knees :  "  No,  I 
wouldn't,  Sally.  I  don't  care  what  dad  says. 
I'm  of  age.  I'm  a  man.  I'll  never  marry  any- 
body but  you," 

Sally  eyed  him  intently :  "  Get  up,  John 
Stubbs.  I  don't  see  why  you  like  me.  I'm  not 
stylish.  I'm  not  like  those  stuck-up  village  girls 
who  are  always  so  very  modest  and  bashful — 
who  simper  and  smirk,  and  talk  prunes  and 
prisms — when  they  are  in  company.  But  you 
just  catch  them  alone  with  a  young  man !  Now, 
that  isn't  my  style.  If  I  was  alone  and  a 
fellow  tried  to  kiss  me,  I'd  scratch  his  eyes 
out.  But  in  a  crowd — well,  that  makes  a  dif- 
ference." 

Sally's  statement  of  her  sentiments  was  evi- 
dently pleasing  to  Johnnie.  He  put  his  arm 
about  her  waist.  "  Well,  two's  a  crowd.  Come, 
Sally,  let's  have  a  real  kiss." 

Sally  eluded  his  caress  and  ran  about  the 
room  closely  followed  by  Johnnie,  who,  at  last, 


34  THE  TOYMAKERS 

caught  her  in  his  arms  and  imprinted  a  kiss  full 
upon  her  lips. 

At  that  crucial  moment  the  kitchen  door  was 
opened — John  Stubbs,  Senior,  stood  there  with 
a  basket  hanging  upon  one  arm,  and  both  full 
of  bundles.  For  a  moment  he  stood  transfixed 
by  the  unwelcome  spectacle;  then,  throwing  the 
bundles  right  and  left,  he  dropped  the  heavily- 
laden  basket  upon  the  floor,  and,  rushing  for- 
ward, pushed  Sally  in  one  direction  and  Johnnie 
in  another.  His  usually  red  face  became  purple 
in  hue,  and  for  a  moment  his  lips  refused  to 
frame  the  words  that  sprang  to  them. 

The  loving  culprits  cowered,  for  they  knew 
that  when  the  storm  broke  there  would  be  no 
shelter  for  them. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  35 


CHAPTER  V 

AN  IRATE  FATHER 

WHEN  Mr.  Stubbs,  Sr.,  found  his  voice,  he  ex- 
claimed :  "  So !  So ! !  So ! ! !  What's  going  on 
here?  I  caught  you,  didn't  I?  Son,  you  ought 
to  look  higher." 

Johnnie  immediately  heeded  his  father's  ad- 
monition and  looked  upward. 

Mr.  Stubbs,  Sr.,  saw  that  his  remark  had  evi- 
dently been  misunderstood,  and  added,  pointing 
his  finger  at  Sally :  "  Than  a  servant  girl."  Evi- 
dently the  elderly  gentleman's  ideas  were  some- 
what confused :  "  Ah !  Let  me  recall  my  last 
thought.  Oh!  Johnnie,  you  must  remember  to 
remember  that  you  are  my  son,  and  that  she — " 
As  he  spoke  he  pointed  his  finger  again  at  Sally 
— "  is  our  servant.  Degenerate  son  of  a  noble 
sire,  come  here." 


36  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Johnnie  approached  him  slowly. 

"  Come  here,"  I  say.  "  I  have  a  good  mind  to 
thrash  you.  Ah !  Let  me  recall  my  last  thought. 
Oh!  John,  Junior,  you  must  remember  to  re- 
member, and  you  too,  Sally,  that  this  is  a  toy 
manufactory  conducted  on  business  principles, 
and  if  there  is  any  kissing  to  be  done,  the  pro- 
prietor will  attend  to  it." 

At  this  remark  both  Sally  and  Johnnie  pouted, 
and  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  the  young 
man  made  a  more  effective  demonstration  than 
did  his  female  companion. 

"  That  ain't  fair,  Dad.  You  said  I  would  have 
a  chance  to  learn  all  the  different  parts  of  the 
business." 

Mr.  Stubbs  shook  his  head  solemnly :  "  Kiss- 
ing isn't  business;  it's  profit.  Now,  Johnnie,  go 
and  grease  your  hair,  and  put  on  your  Duke  of 
Wellington  suit." 

"  I  don't  want  to,  Dad.  The  trousers  are  so 
big,  the  wind  blows  up  and  makes  me  chilly." 

"  John,  Junior,  you  do  as  I  tell  you.  The 
trousers  you  have  on  are  too  short  to  go  visit- 
ing in." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  37 

"  'Tain't  my  fault,  Dad;  they're  auction  pants 
and  went  to  the  highest  bidder.  They'd  suit  a 
short  fellow,  but  a  long  fellow  like  me  has  to  get 
into  them  too  far." 

"  Hurry  up,  Johnnie.  I  know  what's  best  for 
you.  When  I  tell  you  to  do  anything,  you  must 
not  talk  back.  We  are  invited  out  to  supper, 
and  your  Duke  of  Wellington  suit  will  give  you 
plenty  of  room.  You  must  remember  that  what 
you  eat  will  make  a  great  saving  at  home." 

"  I  know  why  you  don't  let  me  wear  my  Duke 
of  Wellington  suit  at  home,  Dad."  As  he  spoke 
a  broad  smile  covered  his  face  and  Sally,  who 
had  been  a  listener  to  the  conversation,  with  dif- 
ficulty restrained  a  peal  of  laughter. 

Mr.  Stubbs  saw  the  smile  upon  his  son's  face, 
and  smiling  in  return  asked :  "  Why,  Johnnie?  " 

Johnnie  was  ready  with  his  answer.  He  was 
a  born  mimic  and  what  his  father  had  said  had 
given  him  an  idea.  "  Because  it  makes  you  fee! 
poor  when  you  look  at  me  and  think  how  much 
it  would  cost  to  fatten  me  up  so  that  the  suit 
would  fit  me." 

Sally   could   restrain   herself  no   longer  and 


38  THE  TOYMAKERS 

burst  into  a  loud  laugh  between  a  screech  and  a 
scream. 

Mr.  Stubbs  felt  that  it  was  time  to  terminate 
the  conversation,  which  seemed  to  be  against 
him :  "  Get  along !  Get  out !  " 

Johnnie  was  entirely  destitute  of  that  desir- 
able moral  quality  known  as  filial  respect.  Al- 
though his  father  was  severe  with  him  in  some 
ways,  in  other  respects  he  had  been  given  the 
widest  latitude.  Youth  is  apt  to  presume,  and 
young  John,  when  the  skies  were  bright,  and 
there  was  no  storm  in  sight,  looked  upon  his 
father  as  a  play-fellow.  To  him  he  was  in 
really  a  pater  familias,  and  he  never  failed  to  go 
to  the  extreme  point  of  familiarity  whenever  oc- 
casion offered.  To  his  father's  command  to  get 
out,  he  answered :  "  All  right,  Dad,"  but  he  did 
not  leave  the  room  immediately.  Instead,  he 
turned  to  Sally,  caught  her  in  his  arms  and 
hugged  her,  despite  her  efforts  to  release  her- 
self. 

Mr.  Stubbs'  attention  was  attracted,  and  see- 
ing what  was  taking  place,  he  stooped  down  to 
pick  up  one  of  the  bundles  which  he  had  dropped, 


THE  TOYMAKERS  39 

with  the  probable  intention  of  throwing  it  at 
his  son. 

Johnnie  was  supplied  with  one  of  those  in- 
struments of  torture — a  bean-blower — and  his 
father's  quick  application  of  a  hand  to  his  bald 
head  showed  that  the  shot  had  taken  effect. 

Mr.  Stubbs,  now  thoroughly  incensed,  ran  af- 
ter his  son.  Johnnie  kicked  the  basket  in  front 
of  him,  and  the  old  gentleman  stumbled  over  it, 
falling  full  length.  He  scrambled  to  his  feet 
just  in  time  to  throw  the  bundle  which  he  had 
in  his  hand  at  Johnnie.  It  failed  to  hit  him, 
however,  striking  the  jamb  of  the  door  as  John- 
nie ran  out  and  closed  it  behind  him. 

This  little  byplay  increased  Sally's  merri- 
ment, and  she  uttered  another  loud  peal  of 
laughter. 

The  old  gentleman  approached  her,  rubbing 
his  head,  for  the  bean  had  been  well  and  strongly 
shot.  He  stopped  and  looked  at  his  serving 
maid: 

"  Ah !  Let  me  recall  my  last  thought.  Miss 
Smiles — Miss  Ann  Smiles — Miss  Sarah  Ann 
Smiles — I  wish  you  to  remember  to  remember 


40  THE  TOYMAKERS 

that  my  son  is  not  to  kiss  you  any  more.  What 
did  you  let  him  do  it  for,  anyway?  " 

"  How  could  I  help  it?  "  cried  Sally.  "  Great 
strong  man  like  Johnnie — poor  little  girl  like 
me." 

"  You  are  a  poor  girl,  that's  a  fact ;  too  poor 
for  Johnnie,  and  he  ought  to  see  it.  But  if  he 
does  not,  I  want  you  to  remember  to  remember, 
Miss  Smiles,  that  if  you  lead  my  innocent  boy 
astray,  it  will  be  dangerous  business  for  you." 

Although  Sally  was  but  a  serving  maid,  we 
have  seen  from  her  conversation  with  young  Mr. 
Stubbs  that  she  was  not  deficient  in  spirit  and 
was  well  able  to  take  her  own  part. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Stubbs,  if  you  don't  want  your 
calf  of  a  son  to  go  astray,  why  don't  you  tie  him 
up?  That's  what  they  always  do." 

"  Well,  I  mean  to  tie  him  up,  and  I'll  tie  you 
up  too.  But  what  is  your  little  game?  " 

"  Don't  worry  about  me,  Mr.  Stubbs ;  my  in- 
tentions are  perfectly  honorable."  Then  in  a 
deliciously  naive  way  she  added :  "  Johnnie  says 
he's  going  to  marry  me." 

Under  the  circumstances  Mr.  Stubbs  must  be 


THE  TOYMAKERS  41 

excused  for  not  being  able  to  control  his  feelings. 
He  knew  nothing  about  North  American  Indi- 
ans, but  when  he  fully  comprehended  Sally's 
remark,  he  gave  vent  to  a  yell  which  would  have 
done  credit  to  a  Comanche. 

"  What !  Marry  you !  A  kitchen  scullion ! 
My  boy !  So  you  think  you  would  like  me  for  a 
father-in-law,  do  you?  Let  me  hear  any  more  of 
this  nonsense  and  out-doors  you  go,  trunk  and 
traps." 

To  use  a  particularly  significant  expression, 
Sally's  blood  was  up.  She  snapped  her  fingers 
in  her  employer's  face :  "  Why  don't  you  do  it 
now,  when  you're  real  mad?  Why  don't  you  do 
it  now?  I'm  willing  to  go.  I  can  get  a  better 
place  than  this  anywhere." 

"  Not  on  my  recommendation,"  said  Mr. 
Stubbs.  "  When  I  do  turn  you  out,  you'll  go  to 
the  workhouse." 

Sally  was  so  impolite  as  to  shake  her  fis*t  in 
Mr.  Stubb"s  face :  "  Don't  you  flatter  yourself ! 
I  wouldn't  own  up  that  I  listened  one  night  when 
you  said  I  did,  but  I  did  just  the  same,  and  I 
saw  Old  Pinch  pay  you  some  money,  and  I  heard 


42  THE  TOYMAKERS 

him  say  something  about  Sally.  Now,  what  was 
he  talking  about  me  for?  If  you  turn  me  out, 
I'll  go  and  ask  him,  and  if  he  won't  tell  me,  I'll 
go  to  the  Mayor,  and  he'll  make  him." 

Mr.  Stubbs'  face  was  a  picture  of  astonish- 
ment and  a  marked  change  took  place  in  his 
manner.  He  patted  Sally  on  the  shoulder  and 
said,  in  a  patronizing  way :  "  Don't  get  excited, 
Sally.  I'm  impulsive,  and,  as  you  know,  my  son 
is  just  like  me." 

Sally  shook  her  head  by  way  of  a  decided  nega- 
tive. 

Mr.  Stubbs  continued :  "  But  you  are  foolish, 
as  all  young  girls  are.  Now,  my  dear  Sally,  you 
must  promise  to  let  my  Johnnie  alone,  and  then 
you  need  not  go  until  after  the  holiday  work  is 
done." 

Sally's  wrath  was  again  enkindled :  "  Oh, 
you  are  very  kind.  You  will  let  me  do  all  the 
hard  work  and  then  kick  me  out."  She  stamped 
her  foot.  "  I  will  promise  nothing  of  the  sort. 
I  like  Johnnie,  and  if  he  insists  upon  kissing 
me,  I  shall  not  object,  and  if  he  asks  me  to 
marry  him,  I  shall  say  *  Yes.'  I  shall  say  '  Yes ' ; 


THE  TOYMAKERS  43 

do  you  hear?  And  as  he  is  your  only  son,  we  are 
sure  to  get  all  your  money  one  of  these  days." 

Mr.  Stubbs'  secret  thoughts  ran  somewhat  in 
this  wise :  "  What  a  cool,  calculating  wretch 
that  girl  is !  "  Aloud,  he  remarked :  "  Don't  you 
be  too  sure,  young  woman.  I  will  build  a  hos- 
pital and  give  all  my  money  to  that." 

Sally  laughed  hysterically :  "  Oh,  yes.  I'd 
call  it  the  Bull  Hospital;  that  would  be  a  fine 
name  for  it." 

Mr.  Stubbs  shook  his  clenched  fist  in  her 
face :  "  Young  woman,  there's  too  much  talk  in 
you !  You've  got  to  go !  " 

Sally  placed  her  hands  upon  her  hips  and 
looked  at  him  defiantly :  "  All  right,  sir,  any 
time  you  say.  While  you're  about  it,  you'd  bet- 
ter put  Tom  out  too.  You've  been  going  to  do  it 
for  a  year.  He'd  be  better  off  in  the  workhouse 
than  he  is  here." 

Her  reference  to  Tom  caused  Mr.  Stubbs  to  re- 
member to  remember. 

"Tom!  Tom!!  Where  is  that  lazy  rascal? 
He  ought  to  be  at  work  making  up  for  lost  time." 

Sally  burst  into  a  loud  laugh :    "  He  is." 


44  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  Where?  " 

Sally  was  so  full  of  merriment  that  she  could 
scarcely  ejaculate :  u  He's  out  in  the  wood-shed 
eating." 

"Eating!"  cried  the  old  man.  "Eating 
again?  Why  he  had  a  bowl  of  porridge  last 
night  for  his  supper,  and  the  balance  of  it  this 
morning  for  breakfast." 

Sally  was  not  noted  for  her  close  adherence  to 
the  truth  in  some  particulars;  besides,  she  had 
always  enjoyed  saying  and  doing  all  that  she 
could  to  worry  her  employer. 

"  Well,  he  said  he  was  hungry,  and  I  gave  him 
all  we  had  left  over  from  dinner." 

There  was  nothing  that  so  aroused  Mr.  Stubbs' 
ire  as  a  disposition,  as  he  called  it,  to  gluttony. 
"  All  of  it?  "  he  cried.  "  He'll  kill  himself.  The 
glutton!  I  must  stop  his  extravagance  or  he'll 
make  a  pauper  of  me." 

Overcome  by  passion,  he  kicked  his  bundles  in 
every  direction,  again  stumbled  over  the  basket, 
vented  his  anger  upon  it  by  kicking  it  furiously 
into  a  corner  of  the  kitchen,  then  left  the  room. 

Sally  was  inclined  to  soliloquize :    "  Mr.  Bull 


THE  TOYMAKERS  45 

is  an  ugly  old  man,  and  telling  him  the  truth 
don't  do  him  any  good.  He  imposes  on  his  good- 
natured  son,  almost  starves  his  nephew,  and 
abuses  a  nice  litle  girl  like  me.  He  would  put 
me  outdoors,  but  he  knows  that  I  listened  that 
night  when  Old  Pinch  was  here.  I  wish  I  knew 
what  Old  Pinch  had  to  say  about  me.  There 
must  be  some  mystery  about  it.  Mr.  Eales  is  an 
old  miser.  He  lives  all  alone  and  he  never 
bought  any  toys,  and  I  don't  see  why  he  should 
pay  Mr.  Bull  money.  Yes,  there's  some  mystery, 
and  I'm  in  it.  But  I  will  find  out  what  it  is 
some  day." 


46  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER   VI 

GETTING    READY    FOR   SOMETHING 

WHEN  Sally  told  Mr.  Stubbs  that  Tom  was 
in  the  wood-shed  eating,  she  was  not  really  cog- 
nizant of  that  fact.  She  was  a  quick-witted 
young  girl  and  had  imagined  that  Tom  had  had 
plenty  of  time  in  which  to  satisfy  his  appetite. 
She  felt  sure  that  he  had  not  returned  to  the  toy- 
shop where  he  was  obliged  to  pass  so  many  long 
hours  of  each  day.  Some  people  hit  the  nail  on 
the  head  unintentionally,  and  this  is  what  Sally 
had  done.  The  fact  was,  that  despite  the  lunch 
at  the  closet,  Tom  had  again  felt  the  pangs  of 
hunger,  and  was  regaling  himself  with  a  huge 
piece  of  Bologna  sausage  and  a  large  slice  of 
bread,  when  Mr.  Stubbs  opened  the  door  of  the 
wood-shed  and  rushed  towards  him. 

The  young  man,  startled  by  the  sudden  ap- 


THE  TOYMAKERS  47 

pearance  of  his  uncle,  was  taken  at  a  disadvan- 
tage, and  before  he  could  resist,  the  meat  and 
bread  had  been  taken  from  him.  Then  ensued 
not  a  passage  of  arms,  but  a  passage  of  words. 

"  What  an  appetite  you  have !  You're  a 
greedy  glutton ! " 

"  Yes,"  said  Tom ;  "  I'm  blessed  with  a  good 
appetite,  but  I  get  very  little  to  satisfy  it." 

"  What  are  you  talking  about?  Didn't  you 
have  a  nice  mutton  stew  last  week?" 

"  Yes,  it  was  a  stew ;  the  mutton  was  old  and 
stale." 

"  If  you  would  work  as  well  as  you  eat — " 

Tom  broke  in :  "I  think  the  work  I  do  is  as 
good  as  the  food  I  get." 

Mr.  Stubbs  became  irate  again :  "  If  you 
would  work  with  all  your  might,  it  would  pay 
me  to  feed  you  better,  but  you  sulk  and  loaf  half 
the  time,  and  I  have  caught  you  asleep  while  the 
others  were  working.  That  kind  of  work  de- 
serves an  empty  stomach,  and  you'll  get  it." 

"  Well,  if  I  had  more  food  and  more  sleep,  I 
could  do  more  work,  but  you  are  too  mean  and 
stingy  to  see  that." 


48  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Mr.  Stubbs  looked  at  the  remnant  of  Bologna 
sausage  and  the  piece  of  bread  that  was  left: 
"You're  a  glutton  and  a  sloth,  and  if  I  don't 
look  after  you,  you're  sure  to  die  from  over-eat- 
ing. Now,  sir,  go  to  bed,  and  don't  forget  to 
remember  to  remember  that  you'll  get  no  break- 
fast to-morrow  morning." 

"  No  Christmas  breakfast ! "  cried  Tom. 
"  That's  an  outrage.  Isn't  the  laborer  worthy 
of  his  hire?  " 

"  Yes,  but  your  labor  comes  higher  than  my 
business  will  allow.  Why,  you've  eaten  enough 
now  to  bring  on  a  famine." 

11  Uncle  Bull,  I  have  worked  hard  for  four- 
teen years  for  you  and  have  never  got  anything 
but  a  bare  living." 

"  You  ungrateful  wretch !  What  do  you  mean 
by  a  bare  living?  " 

"  I  mean  barely  enough  to  eat  to  keep  me 
alive,  and  barely  time  enough  to  eat  it  in ;  a  bare 
board  to  sleep  on,  and  barely  time  to  get  it 
warm,  and  just  enough  clothes  to  keep  me  from 
being  bare." 

Mr.  Stubbs'  face  grew  red  with  anger :    "  Keep 


THE  TOYMAKERS  49 

on,  young  man,  and  the  lies  will  choke  you  to 
death.  It's  a  wonder  the  bears  don't  come  down 
and  eat  you." 

Tom  had  a  marked  sense  of  humor:  "  I'm  not 
fat  enough,  uncle,  to  make  a  bear  meal.  Why 
don't  you  pay  me  wages,  the  same  as  you  do  the 
others,  and  let  me  board  with  somebody  who  can 
appreciate  the  feelings  of  a  hungry  man?  " 

"  Wages !  Pay  you  wages !  Didn't  I  take  you 
in  when  you  were  a  poor  miserable  outcast,  and 
do  for  you  what  no  one  else  would?  Don't  for- 
get to  remember  to  remember  that." 

"  Uncle  Bull,  I  shall  never  forget  how  you 
took  me  in,  and  how  you've  done  for  me.  I 
don't  believe  any  person  would  have  done  what 
you've  done  for  me.  But,  Mr.  Bull,  when  I'm 
of  age,  Mr.  Bull,  which  will  be  in  less  than  two 
years,  Mr.  Bull,  I  mean  to  be  bright  enough  to 
find  out  what  became  of  the  thousand  pounds 
that  my  father  left  me,  Mr.  Bull,  and  which  dis- 
appeared so  mysteriously,  Mr.  Bull,  and  don't 
forget  to  remember  to  remember  that,  Mr, 
Bull." 

Mr.    Stubbs'    face   took    on   a   purplish   hue. 


50  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  Don't  try  to  bully  me.  Now,  go  to  bed.  I  am 
invited  out  to  supper  to-night  and  Johnnie  is 
going  with  me.  That  will  reduce  expenses." 

There  was  a  closet  in  the  wood-shed.  Mr. 
Stubbs  unlocked  the  door  and  looked  in. 
"  Come,  get  in  here !  I'm  going  to  lock  you  in 
while  we're  gone,  so  that  you  won't  be  increas- 
ing expenses  by  eating  up  everything  that's  left 
in  the  house." 

Tom  said  plaintively :    "  I'm  so  hungry !  " 

"  Hungry !  You  anaconda !  Why,  you've 
eaten  enough  to  bring  on  a  nightmare.  Come, 
get  in  here.  There's  a  bench  in  the  closet  and 
you  can  have  a  nap  until  I  return.  Sleep  is 
great  relief  for  a  hungry  man — "  He  laughed 
sardonically — "  and  it  isn't  expensive  either." 

Tom  could  not  forebear  a  parting  shot  before 
his  uncle  locked  the  closet  door :  "  My  dear 
uncle,  if  sleep  is  so  cheap,  why  don't  you  let  me 
have  more  of  it?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  slammed  the  door,  turned  the  key, 
put  it  in  his  pocket,  and  made  his  way  back  to 
the  kitchen. 

A  few  minutes  passed,  a  light  grating  sound 


THE  TOYMAKERS  51 

was  heard,  the  door  of  the  closet  opened,  and 
Tom's  head  appeared. 

"  Ha !  ha ! !  My  dear  uncle,  I  have  a  key  too. 
I  do  not  propose  to  miss  my  Christmas  eve  sup- 
per, and  I  mean  to  go  to  the  masquerade  with 
my  Daisy." 


52  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  VII 

THE  TOYMAKER'S  SECRET 

WHEN  Mr.  Stubbs  re-entered  the  kitchen,  he 
found  himself  its  sole  occupant.  He  sat  down 
in  a  high-backed  chair  by  the  open  fireplace. 

"  The  boy's  more  than  half  right,  but  he 
doesn't  know  it;  he  only  imagines  it.  But  how 
in  the  world  did  he  find  it  out?  I  mean,  what 
led  him  to  think  that  there  was  a  thousand 
pounds?  That's  what  it  was,  but  it  has  grown 
in  fourteen  years  to  more  than  ten  times  as 
much,  but  it  was  not  money — it  was  my  brains 
that  did  it.  One  of  these  days  I  suppose  I  shall 
have  to  settle  up  with  him  and  allow  him  the 
principal  and  2  per  cent  interest.  That's  not 
exorbitant." 

For  a  while  he  sat  in  deep  meditation.  "  Ah ! 
let  me  recall  my  last  thought  Oh!  I  must  re- 
member to  remember  that  among  his  father's 
private  papers  I  found  the  idea  that  suggested 


THE  TOYMAKERS  53 

mj  great  work,  which  I  have  just  completed — 
my  beautiful,  life-sized  doll,  into  which,  by 
means  of  magical  incantations  and  the  wonder- 
ful revivifying  effect  of  electricity,  I  mean  to  put 
the  breath  of  life,  and — "  He  raised  his  voice  to 
the  extent  of  his  vocal  capacity —  "  make  her  a 
living  creature."  As  he  uttered  the  words  he 
arose  and  lifted  his  right  hand,  making  an  un- 
usual and  impressive  appearance. 

While  Mr.  Stubbs  had  been  talking  with  Tom, 
and  advocating  the  advantages  of  a  low  dietary, 
Johnnie  had  donned  his  Duke  of  Wellington  suit, 
and,  not  finding  his  father  in  the  kitchen,  had 
gone  out-doors  to  make  a  survey  of  the  weather 
conditions. 

The  kitchen  was  brightly  lighted,  and  Johnnie 
could  not  have  been  seen  by  his  father  even  if 
he  had  looked  at  the  window. 

WThen  Johnnie  heard  the  loud  voice  and  saw 
the  uplifted  hand,  he  said  to  himself :  "  Dad's 
got  something  on  his  mind,"  and  as  he  never  saw 
or  heard  anything  that  he  did  not  immediately 
tell  Sally  about,  he  started  in  search  of  her. 

Mr.  Stubbs  still  kept  his  imposing  attitude. 


54  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  I  am  alone !  Like  Robinson  Crusoe,  I  am 
monarch  of  all  I  survey.  Now  is  a  good  time  to 
see  my  doll,  the  climatic  apex  of  ethnological 
art." 

He  took  a  bunch  of  keys  from  his  pocket,  and 
selecting  one,  went  to  a  closet,  which  he  un- 
locked and  entered.  He  returned  almost  im- 
mediately, dragging  a  platform,  upon  which 
stood  a  life-sized  doll,  handsomely  dressed. 

Mr.  Stubbs  resumed  his  seat  in  the  high 
backed  chair  and  regarded  the  doll  with  a  look 
of  great  satisfaction.  "  What  a  pleasure  to  look 
at  my  wonderful  doll,  so  beautifully  still,  and 
still  so  beautiful!  Ah!  Let  me  recall  my  last 
thought!  Oh!  I  must  not  forget  to  remember 
to  remember  that  soon  she  will  breathe  and  live 
— live  like  the  rest  of  us — but  when?  My  book 
on  anthropolitico-ethnologipological  magic  says: 
'  Never  attempt  revivatory  incantational  postu- 
lations  unless  it  is  a  tempestuously  wild  night.' 
I  yearn  for  such  a  night.  I  must  look  at  my 
almanac." 

He  took  the  almanac  from  the  mantlepiece 
and  bent  over  to  consult  it 


THE  TOYMAKERS  55 

Johnnie  had  found  Sally,  and  Tom  had  found 
them  both.  Johnnie  had  related  his  experience 
at  the  window,  to  which  Sally  and  Johnnie  re- 
turned. They  lifted  the  sash  several  inches  and 
listened  intently.  Tom  opened  the  kitchen  door 
a  short  distance  and  was  equally  inquisitive. 

The  weight  of  the  sash  being  too  heavy  to  be 
supported  by  their  fingers,  Sally  and  Johnnie 
withdrew  them,  and  the  window  fell  with  a 
heavy  bang.  Tom  heard  the  noise,  and  not 
knowing  what  it  meant,  slammed  the  kitchen 
door  and  made  his  way  back  to  the  wood-shed. 

Mr.  Stubbs  jumped  up  excitedly.  "  Was  that 
thunder? "  He  listened.  "  No,  it  could  not 
have  been.  What  an  old  fool  I  am  to  be  fright- 
ened at  nothing.  It  is  too  abominably  pleasant 
to  work  any  magicolindrical  spells  to-night.  I 
will  see  what  the  almanac  says,  anyway.  It  is 
the  most  satisfactory  book  published.  It  has  all 
kinds  of  weather  in  it,  and  a  change  for  better 
or  worse  every  other  day.  Let's  see!  What 
year  is  this?  That  don't  make  any  difference. 
An  almanac  is  just  as  good  for  one  year  as  it 
is  for  another.  What  day  is  this,  anyway? 


56  THE  TOYMAKERS 

December  twenty-fourth.  To-morrow  is  Christ- 
mas. How  time  flies ! " 

He  threw  the  book  upon  the  floor :  "  An  al- 
manac is  always  full  of  information  and  advice 
that  nobody  wants.  I  must  consult  my  zodiacal 
cymbals." 

He  entered  the  closet  from  which  he  had 
brought  the  doll,  and  soon  returned  with  a 
huge  pair  of  cymbals.  He  struck  them  together 
with  a  loud  clang,  but  when  he  did  so  he  was 
so  close  to  the  candle,  which  stood  upon  the 
table,  that  it  was  blown  out. 

At  that  instant,  Johnnie,  who  was  provided 
with  his  bean-blower,  and  who  had  propped  up 
the  sash  of  the  kitchen  window  with  a  stick,  took 
good  aim  and  struck  his  father  in  the  head. 

Mr.  Stubbs  clashed  the  symbols  wildly  to- 
gether, with  the  evident  purpose  of  exorcising 
the  evil  spirits  which  surrounded  him. 

Tom  opened  the  kitchen  door  and  gave  a  loud, 
mocking  laugh  and  then  retired  quickly. 
Johnnie,  seeing  that  further  markmanship  was 
prevented  by  the  lack  of  light,  had  secured  his 
fish-horn,  upon  which  he  blew  a  long,  resounding 


THE  TOYMAKERS  57 

blast.  Before  its  notes  had  died  away,  Sally 
entered  the  kitchen,  and  startled  by  the  clanging 
of  the  cymbals,  uttered  a  loud  scream  and  re- 
traced her  footsteps. 

Mr.  Stubbs  leaned  upon  the  table,  shaking 
from  head  to  foot.  He  waited  for  several  min- 
utes, but  as  the  sounds  were  not  repeated,  he  re- 
lighted the  candle. 

"  There  must  be  rats,  cats,  bats,  and  screech- 
owls  around  this  house.  My  nerves  are  getting 
weak.  I'm  an  old  man  and  may  drop  off  sud- 
denly. But  I'll  leave  my  son  a  good  business 
and  a  beautiful  wife.  She  looks  just  like  Daisy 
Dane — the  prettiest  girl  in  the  village.  When 
I  made  the  face,  I  took  pains  to  remember  to 
remember  just  how  she  looked." 

He  dragged  the  platform  upon  which  the  doll 
stood  back  into  the  closet,  locked  the  door,  and 
turned  towards  the  table.  As  he  did  so,  he  was 
confronted  by  Sally,  who  had  entered  the  room 
in  time  to  see  the  doll. 


58  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  VIII 

SALLY  MAKES  A  TRADE 

SALLY  pointed  towards  the  door  of  the  closet : 
"Who  is  she?" 

Mr.  Stubbs,  whose  nerves  were  considerably 
shaken  by  past  experiences,  answered  one  ques- 
tion with  another:  "  She's  who?" 

"  That's  just  what  I  want  to  know,  Mr. 
Stubbs.  Who  is  that  girl  you've  just  hidden 
away  in  the  closet?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  hesitated:  "She?  Let  me  recall 
my  last  thought.  I  will  try  to  remember  to  re- 
member. She?  Oh !  She's  an  old  friend  of  the 
family." 

Sally's  nose  became  quite  retrousse:  "Old 
friend !  She's  too  young  to  be  a  very  old  friend. 
I  see  how  it  is.  You  are  the  old  friend.  I'm 
shocked,  Mr.  Stubbs.  Do  you  hear?  I'm  shocked. 
One  of  our  leading  citizens,  and  at  your  time  of 


THE  TOYMAKERS  59 

life  too !  "    She  covered  her  face  with  her  hands. 

Mr.  Stubbs  betrayed  indignation :  "  What  do 
you  mean?  At  my  time  of  life?  "  He  raised  his 
hand  threateningly.  "  Do  you  mean  to  insinu- 
ate  " 

Sally  retaliated  by  shaking  her  fist :  "  Mr. 
Stubbs,  don't  speak  to  me  in  that  tone  of  voice. 
You're  a  bald-headed,  insinuating,  prevaricat- 
ing, horrid,  double-dealing,  weak  old  man."  She 
started  to  run  out  of  the  room,  but  Mr.  Stubbs 
caught  her  by  the  arm  and  held  her  fast.  "  I'll 
tell  Tom;  I'll  tell  Johnnie,"  and  then  at  the  top 
of  her  voice  she  screamed :  "  I'll  tell  everybody." 

Mr.  Stubbs  saw  that  the  situation  was  getting 
serious :  "  Be  quiet,  you  fool.  You  can  make 
more  by  keeping  my  secret." 

"  I  won't,  Mr.  Stubbs.  I  can't  keep  a  secret. 
I  don't  want  to.  I  say  I  won't.  When  I  tell, 
they'll  put  you  in  the  stocks,  and  then  Tom,  and 
me,  and  Johnnie  will  come  and  laugh  at  you," 
and  by  way  of  practice  as  it  were,  Sally  laughed 
hysterically. 

Then  Mr.  Stubbs  said  coaxingly :  "  Sally, 
wouldn't  you  like  a  new  dress?  " 


60  THE  TOYMAKERS 

It  did  not  take  Sally  long  to  reply :  "  Ain't  I 
a  woman?  Of  course  I  would." 

"  That's  all  right,  Sally.  Now,  you  keep  your 
tongue  still,  like  a  good  little  girl,  about  that," 
and  he  pointed  to  the  closet  door,  "and  I  will 
give  you  a  nice  new  dress." 

"Silk?" 

"  No ;  silk  is  too  expensive." 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Stubbs,  but  the  secret  is  very  valu- 
able." 

"  I  can't  afford  it,  Sally." 

"  Well,  Tm  sorry,  but  I  can't  afford  to  keep 
such  a  great  big  secret  for  anything  less.  After 
all,"  and  she  laughed,  "  I  think  I  would  rather 
have  the  fun  of  telling  than  to  have  the  new 
dress." 

Mr.  Stubbs  raised  both  his  hands  deprecat- 
ingly :  "  No,  no.  I  accept  your  offer ;  it  is  a 
bargain;  you  shall  have  a  silk  dress." 

"That's  very  low  for  it,  Mr.  Stubbs;  you 
ought  to  throw  in  boots,  stockings,  gloves,  and  a 
new  bonnet." 

Mr.  Stubbs  felt  that  his  secret  was  likely  to 
cost  him  dearly,  and  he  saw  the  necessity  of 


THE  TOYMAKERS  61 

cultivating  the  most  amicable  relations  with  his 
serving  maid.  He  chucked  her  under  the  chin 
and  said  softly :  "  You're  a  nice  little  girl, 
Sally." 

"It  has  taken  you  a  long  time  to  find  that 
out,  Mr.  Stubbs."  She  looked  up  at  him  archly: 
"  I  guess  if  I  stay  here  long  enough  I'm  likely  to 
become  a  friend  of  the  family  some  time." 

Mr.  Stubbs  realized  that  it  would  not  do  to 
trifle  with  the  possesser  of  his  secret:  "Ah, 
Sally,  if  I  give  you  a  nice  new  bonnet,  won't 
you  give  me  a  nice  little  kiss?  " 

Sally's  lip  projected  and  her  nose  was  more 
retrousse  than  before :  "  That's  an  awful  high 
price  for  a  bonnet.  Silk?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  turned  away  and  said  sharply: 
"  Confound  it,  no.  Suppose  I'm  going  to  dress 
you  in  silks  and  satins?  " 

"  A  kiss  is  always  worth  the  most  you  can  get 
for  it;  besides,  I  can't  wear  anything  but  a  silk 
bonnet  with  my  new  dress." 

Mr.  Stubbs  realized  that  he  was  in  the  toils: 
"  Well,  it  shall  be  silk."  He  tried  to  kiss  her, 
but  she  pushed  him  back. 


62  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  For  one  kiss,  one  silk  bonnet ;  for  two,  stock- 
ings; for  three,  gloves;  four,  boots.  You  takes 
your  choice  and  pays  for  what  you  takes." 

Mr.  Stubbs  took  the  first  kiss.  Sally  was  so 
impolite  as  to  wipe  her  mouth  after  receiving  it, 
and  so  morally  defective  as  to  think  to  herself 
that  it  was  always  best  to  have  the  head  of  the 
family  on  your  side. 

The  exercise  in  osculation  had  so  absorbed  the 
attention  of  the  two  principals,  that  they  were 
not  aware  of  the  presence  of  a  third  person,  un- 
til Johnnie  remarked :  "  When  the  kitten's 
away,  the  old  cat  plays  with  the  mouse." 

His  father  turned  upon  him  fiercely :  "  How 
did  you  come  in  here?  " 

Johnnie  smiled  'blandly:  "The  window  was 
open  and  I  blew  in." 

"  What  were  you  at  the  window  for?  " 

Johnnie  hesitated :  "  I  was  just  walking 
by." 

"Yes;  is  that  all?" 

"  No — I  made  a  snowball  to  throw  at  the 
dog." 

"Yes;  is  that  all?" 


THE  TOYMAKERS  63 

"  N — o ;  I  could  not  help  seeing  that  there  was 
a  light  in  the  room." 

"Yes;  is  that  all?" 

"  N — o ;  I  could  not  help  looking  in,  and — " 

"Yes,  yes;  is  that  all?" 

"  N — o ;  I  saw — " 

Mr.  Stubbs  looked  savagely  at  his  son: 
"What?" 

Though  Johnnie  was  young,  he  had  an  old 
head  on  his  shoulders :  "  I  didn't  see  nothing 
that  it's  worth  while  to  remember." 

"  Very  good,  young  man,  and  you  see  that 
you  do  not  remember  to  remember.  Now, 
you  go  out-doors  and  wait  for  me  until  I  get 
ready." 

"  I  don't  want  to ;  it's  too  cold  out  there." 

Mr.  Stubbs  grasped  a  heavy  oaken  stick  that 
stood  by  the  fireplace :  "  Well,  take  your  choice 
— the  cold  outside  or  a  warming  inside/' 

Johnnie  felt  that  he  had  not  been  treated 
fairly  and  he  determined  to  resist  the  parental 
authority :  "  I  don't  want  to.  I  won't  go.  No, 
I  won't." 

Mr.  Stubbs,  with  uplifted  stick,  advanced  to- 


64  THE  TOYMAKERS 

wards  the  young  man:  "You  won't  go?  Well, 
we'll  see  about  that." 

Sally  ran  between  them,  grasped  Mr.  Stubbs' 
arm,  and  cried :  "  Stop,  Mr.  Stubbs ;  don't  you 
dare  to  hit  Johnnie." 

The  old  man  gave  her  a  violent  push :  "  Shut 
up !  You've  sold  out." 

Sally  ran  to  Johnnie  and  threw  her  arms  about 
his  neck :  "  You  touch  Johnnie,  and  I  won't 
have  your  old  dress,  nor  your  bonnet  either.  I'll 
tell  him  everything,  and  more  too." 

"Well,  Sally,  I'll  forgive  him  this  time." 
Then  feeling  that  he  had  relented  too  easily,  he 
added :  "  The  next  time  I  thrash  him,  I'll  re- 
member to  remember  and  give  him  double." 

Mr.  Stubbs  replaced  the  stick  by  the  fireplace 
and,  turning  suddenly,  found  Sally  and  Johnnie 
embracing  each  other. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  you  young  rascal,  by 
kissing  Sally  right  before  my  face  and  eyes." 

"  Oh,  nothing,  Dad ;  I  was  only  following 
mother's  advice." 

"Nonsense!    What  do  you  mean?" 

Johnnie  was  determined  to  justify  himself: 


THE  TOYMAKERS  65 

"  Why,  mother  told  me  always  to  follow  your  ex- 
ample." 

Johnnie  started  to  run  from  the  room,  but  he 
did  not  escape  the  slipper  which  his  father 
threw  after  him. 

Sally  brought  him  his  boots.  In  his  heart  Mr. 
Stubbs  heartily  appreciated  the  witty  remark 
Johnnie  had  made.  He  chuckled  to  himself  and 
said :  "  That's  my  boy — my  boy.  Here,  Sally !  " 

"  Of  course." 

"  I'm  invited  out  to  supper  to-night  with  John- 
nie." 

"  Of  course." 

"  Bring  me  my  hat  and  coat  and  cane." 

"  Of  course." 

Sally  brought  them  and  helped  him  on  with 
his  coat. 

"  We  may  be  out  late,  Sally." 

"  Of  course." 

"  Put  out  the  light—" 

"  Of  course." 

• 

Sally  snuffed  the  candle  by  putting  Mr. 
Stubbs'  hat  over  it.  The  log  in  the  fireplace, 
which  had  been  sputtering  for  half  an  hour, 


66  THE  TOYMAKERS 

broke  into  a  bright  blaze  and  lighted  up  the 
room. 

"  Look  out,  Sally;  you  got  grease  all  over  my 
hat." 

"  Of  course.  Why  not?  It's  going  on  your 
head,  isn't  it?  " 

"  Now,  Sally,  don't  forget  to  remember  to  re- 
member— "  But  he  forgot  to  remember.  "  Put 
out  the  bed,  lock  the  candle,  and  go  to  the  key; 
here's  the  door." 

Sally  took  the  key  with  the  stereotyped  re- 
mark :  "  Of  course." 

Mr.  Stubbs  felt  that  there  had  been  some  mis- 
take in  the  location  of  his  last  words :  "  Let  me 
recall  my  last  thought.  Oh!  Sally,  yes,  lock 
the  door,  put  out  the  candle — "  which  Sally  had 
re-lighted  at  the  blazing  log — "  and  go  to  bed." 

Johnnie  burst  into  the  room  crying:  "Oh, 
Sally,  Dad,  come  quick,  quick,  quick.  Here  are 
the  carollers." 

They  all  rushed  from  the  room.  Borne  upon 
the  night  air  were  the  words  of  a  gladsome  song, 
teaching  the  same  lesson  that  had  been  rung  out 
by  the  bells  hours  before. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  67 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE  LITTLE  COT  BY  THE  RIVEE 

A  SHORT  distance  from  the  red  mill  stood  a 
little  cot.  It  was  near  the  river,  and  after  the 
River  Quick  had  turned  Mr.  Stubbs'  wheel, 
flecked  with  foam  it  dashed  by  the  cottage,  still 
singing,  in  a  minor  key,  the  song  it  had  learned 
as  it  reached  the  edge  of  the  dam  and  jumped 
into  the  depths  beneath.  It  was  the  same  old 
song  it  had  sung  since  Daisy  Dane  was  a  baby. 

In  those  days,  not  so  long  gone,  her  mother, 
Ruth  Dane,  had  sung  her  to  sleep,  her  rich  so- 
prano voice  rising  high  above  the  sound  of  the 
waters  but  gaining  and  giving  an  added  charm. 

Daisy  Dane  had  been  a  beautiful  child  and  a 
happy  life  had  added  to  her  beauty  as  she  grew 
to  womanhood.  A  great  sorrow  had  come  to  her 
when  but  six  years  old,  but  it  had  been  tem- 
pered for  her,  although  it  had  increased  the 
grief  of  others.  Daisy  did  not  see  her  mother 


68  THE  TOYMAKERS 

die,  nor  did  she  see  her  buried.  Her  grandfather, 
who  lived  on  the  coast,  fell  ill,  and  his  daughter 
Ruth  felt  that  it  was  her  duty  to  visit  him —  per- 
haps for  the  last  time.  She  went,  leaving  her 
only  child,  Daisy,  in  the  care  of  her  friend,  Mrs. 
Morton,  who  had  just  become  a  bride. 

No  one  knew  just  how  it  happened,  but  Ruth 
Dane  had  fallen  from  a  cliff  near  her  parents' 
house.  Her  body  was  washed  out  to  sea  and  was 
never  recovered. 

Back  to  the  little  cot  by  the  river  came 
Grandpa  and  Grandma  Larkin.  Little  Daisy's 
cries  for  her  mother  received  but  one  answer — 
"  You'll  see  her  again  some  day  " — and  after  a 
while  the  grief  became  but  a  memory,  although 
for  years  the  little  girl  would  press  her  face 
against  the  window-pane  and  keep  her  eyes  fixed 
upon  the  long  stretch  of  white  road  that  ran 
by  the  cot  and  the  mill.  At  last  she  would  turn 
away  with  a  smothered  sob,  run  to  her  own 
room,  bury  her  face  in  her  pillow  with  one  word 
on  her  lips — and  that  word  was  "  Mother". 

Grandpa  and  Grandma  Larkin  were  true  to 
their  trust.  They  sold  their  own  house,  and  the 


THE  TOYMAKERS  69 

proceeds  were  used  to  make  life  easy  and  happy 
for  the  granddaughter  who  had  taken  her 
mother's  place  in  their  hearts.  None  of  her 
wishes  went  ungratified  if  their  simple  income 
could  afford  it.  In  one  way  only  had  she 
crossed  them,  but  she  did  not  know  it.  They 
had  looked  higher  for  her  than  Tom  Bright — 
that  shiftless  nephew  of  John  B.  Stubbs.  They 
were  sure  Captain  Horatio  Sabreton  of  His 
Majesty's  44th  Hussars  was  in  love  with  her. 
Tom  Bright  was  a  penniless  toymaker,  while 
Captain  Sabreton  was  the  third  son  of  an  earl, 
and  might  some  day — for  such  things  had  hap- 
pened— be  an  earl  himself — and  then  Daisy 
would  be  a  countess,  which,  in  the  opinion  of  her 
doting  grandparents,  was  just  what  she  was  in- 
tended for. 

But  love  will  go  where  it  is  sent,  and  Daisy 
loved  Tom ;  so  no  word  of  protest  was  raised,  and 
if  Tom  was  starved  and  brow-beaten  at  the  mill, 
when  he  was  at  the  cottage  he  was  feasted  and 
treated  like  a  favorite  son.  Daisy's  blue  eyes 
would  lose  their  lustre  if  filled  with  tears,  and 
that  pretty  head,  with  its  wealth  of  golden  curls, 


70  THE  TOYMAKERS 

must  not  be  bowed  in  sorrow,  as  it  certainly 
would  be  if  her  lover  were  not  made  welcome. 

Grandma  Larkin  sat  before  the  open  fireplace 
in  which  a  great  log  was  burning  fiercely,  her 
slippered  feet  resting  upon  a  cricket  which  Tom 
had  made.  Daisy  had  covered  it  with  a  piece  of 
bright  red  carpeting  and  tacked  some  blue  fringe 
upon  the  edges.  Grandpa  Larkin,  who  had  been 
a  man-o'  war's  man  in  his  younger  days,  called 
it  the  "  Union  Jack  ",  and  no  one  was  allowed 
to  use  it  but  its  proud  owner. 

Grandpa  Larkin  puffed  at  his  pipe  and  in  obe- 
dience to  repeated  obdurations,  blew  the  smoke 
up  the  cavernous  chimney  because  "  Daisy  can't 
bear  so  much  tobacco  smell  and  this  is  her  house, 
not  our'n." 

There  was  a  third  member  of  the  household, 
but  he  took  no  part  in  the  conversation.  He 
had  been  mute  from  birth,  never  having  spoken 
an  intelligible  word.  But  he  was  not  deaf,  as 
the  position  of  his  head  indicated,  and  his  sharp, 
bright  eyes  showed  that  he  was  interested  in 
what  was  going  on. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  71 

The  door  that  led  to  the  little  front  garden 
with  its  maze  of  old-time  flowers  was  opened  and 
voices  were  heard.  The  mute  member  of  the  fam- 
ily listened  intently. 

"  Come  in,  Tom." 

"  I'd  like  to,  Daisy,  but  I  can't.  I'm  hungry, 
and  as  uncle  is  away,  there's  a  chance  for  some 
supper." 

"  Take  supper  with  us." 

"  No,  thank  you ;  I'm  coming  to-morrow  night, 
you  know.  Besides,  I  haven't  got  my  costume 
yet.  Have  you  yours?  " 

"All  but  my  hat;  but  you  can't  see  it  till 
we're  all  ready  to  go.  How  do  we  go?  " 

"  In  Barnabas  Briggs's  big  wagon.  He  has 
fitted  it  with  seats,  and  we're  to  meet  him  at 
the  old  oak  at  ten  o'clock.  The  ball  is  not  on 
until  eleven  as  the  Hussars  have  a  banquet  and 
speeches  from  eight  till  then.  Captain  Sabre- 
ton's  brother,  the  earl,  is  to  be  there." 

"  I  wish  I  could  see  him." 

"  He'll  be  at  the  ball.  Now,  good-bye,  Daisy, 
for  a  couple  of  hours." 

There  was  a  sound  that  brought  the  mute 


72  THE  TOYMAKERS 

member  to  his  feet  and  his  eyes  snapped.  The 
next  moment  he  had  his  fore  paws  on  his  mis- 
tress's shoulders. 

"  Down,  Toby,  down !  Why  anyone  would 
think  you  loved  me." 

"And  so  he  does,"  said  Grandma  Larkin, 
"  and  dogs  is  more  faithful  lovers  than  men, 
which  isn't  saying  anything  against  your  grand- 
father." 

"  It's  all  in  the  woman,"  piped  Grandpa  Lar- 
kin, as  he  swallowed  some  smoke.  "  It's  mighty 
hard  to  love  some  women,  as  they  tell  me  and  as 
I  reads  in  books."  Further  speech  was  stopped 
by  a  fit  of  coughing. 

"  It's  that  horrid  tobacco,"  said  Daisy.  "  Bet- 
ter up  the  chimney  than  down  youlr  throat, 
Grandpa." 

Toby  was  an  obedient  dog  and  minded  the 
command  to  "down."  He  had  been  given  to 
Daisy  when  in  his  puppydom,  by  the  village 
tailor,  and,  in  gratitude,  had  been  named  after 
the  donor. 

"  Now,  Grandma,  I'll  toast  the  bread,  and 
make  the  tea,  and  cut  the  cheese,  and  get  the 


THE  TOYMAKERS  73 

preserves,  and  we'll  have  our  supper  together, 
just  as  we  always  do,  even  if  I  have  to  eat  an- 
other at  Dunmoor.  You  won't  be  afraid  if  I 
stay  all  night,  will  you?  Mrs.  Merrily  is  going, 
and  she  has  engaged  a  room  at  the  Castle  Inn. 
I'll  be  home  early  in  the  morning  and  bring 
Santa  Glaus  with  me." 

"  Is  Tom  going  to  be  Santa  Claus?  "  asked 
Grandma. 

"  Why,  no.  What  an  idea.  He  won't  tell  me 
and  I  won't  tell  him." 

"  That's  right,  Daisy,"  said  Grandpa,  "  don't 
have  no  secrets  between  yer,  'cause  secrets  lead 
to  lies,  and  lies  to  quarrels,  and  quarrels  to — " 

"  Supper,"  cried  Daisy,  as  she  spread  the 
white  cloth  on  the  little  round  table.  Soon  the 
crisp  toast,  the  steaming  tea,  the  yellow  cheese, 
and  the  golden-red  preserves'  were  on  the  table, 
and  all  gathered  about  it,  Toby  waiting  with 
eager  eyes  and  expectant  jaws  for  the  tid-bits 
which  he  never  failed  to  get. 

There  was  no  click-clack  of  the  mill-wheel — 
the  river  ran  quietly  by  the  little  cot  and  all  was 
peace  within. 


74  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  X 

THE  TAILOR  AND  MISS  JONES 

Miss  JENNIE  JAMIESON  JONES  was  a  lady  of 
uncertain  age.  You  might  have  guessed  how  old 
she  was,  but  Miss  Jones  never  would  have  ac- 
knowledged the  correctness  of  your  estimate. 
She  had  been  born  a  Jamieson.  Her  father  was 
very  poor  and  very  proud.  Her  stepfather  was 
Mr.  Obed  Jones,  and  he,  by  way  of  contrast,  was 
very  meek  and  very  well-to-do.  Miss  Jones  of- 
ten said  that  she  was  Jennie  by  virtue  of  a  chris- 
tening; a  Jamieson  by  the  accident  of  birth,  and 
a  Jones  by  a  streak  of  good  luck. 

Miss  Jones  had  passed  many  years  before  her 
heart  was  touched  by  the  tender  passion,  and 
then  her  affections  had  been  bestowed  upon  what 
is  sometimes  called  "  the  ninth  part  of  a  man  " — 
a  tailor.  The  fortunate  gentleman  was  Mr.  To- 


THE  TOYMAKERS  75 

bias — or,  as  he  was  generally  called — Toby 
Whackers,  the  village  tailor. 

Miss  Jones'  passion  was  such  a  pure  and  en- 
during flame  that  it  was  not  at  all  quenched  by 
the  storm  of  criticism  thrown  upon  it  by  her  so- 
called  or  would-be  friends.  Her  acquaintance 
was  sought,  for  she  contributed  largely  to  the 
social  entertainments  of  the  village.  She  was 
a  pillar  in  the  church,  and  could  always  be  relied 
upon  when  a  hand  was  extended  in  behalf  of 
charity.  She  was  so  secure  in  her  position  that 
she  did  not  ask,  expect,  or  care  for  charity  from 
others.  She  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  her  way, 
satisfied  that  she  had  made  a  good  choice.  She 
was  not  vain  at  heart,  but  there  were  moments 
when  she  felt  that  after  she  became  Mrs.  Tobias 
Whackers,  she  would  find  some  way  to  repay  in 
kind  some  of  her  merciless  critics. 

Both  Miss  Jones  and  Mr.  Whackers  had  been 
invited  to  attend  the  masquerade  ball  at  Dun- 
moor  Barracks. 

Miss  Jones,  conventional  in  some  things,  was 
very  unconventional  in  others.  One  of  her 
critics  had  referred  to  her  and  her  future  hus- 


76  THE  TOYMAKERS 

band  as  "  Mr.  Whackers  and  his  goose."  Miss 
Jones  had  appreciated  the  remark  to  a  greater 
extent  than  did  the  one  who  uttered  it,  and  she 
had  determined,  despite  the  mild  remonstrances 
of  Mr.  Whackers,  to  appear  at  the  masquerade 
dressed  in  the  costume  of  a  goose.  She  had  in- 
vented it,  and  Mr.  Whackers,  with  his  sharp 
scissors  and  deft  needle,  had  constructed  it.  He 
had  told  her  that  it  would  be  completed  late  in 
the  afternoon  before  Christmas  day,  and  it  was 
about  six  o'clock  when  Miss  Jones  arrived  at 
Mr.  Whackers's  sartorial  studio,  with  the  inten- 
tion of  trying  on  her  new  costume.  The  studio 
included  a  front  store,  a  trying-on  room,  and 
Mr.  Whackers's  chamber,  which  was  at  the 
rear. 

The  costume  was  a  perfect  fit,  and  Mr.  Whack- 
ers, in  the  exuberance  of  his  love,  had  called  her 
his  little  goose,  when  there  came  a  thundering 
knock  at  the  front  door  of  the  shop. 

"  Who  can  it  be?  "  cried  Toby. 

"  Where  can  I  go?  "  cried  Miss  Jones. 

Mr.  Whackers  pointed  towards  the  door  of  his 
chamber :  "  My  love,  I  see  no  other  way." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  77 

The  knocking  at  the  door  was  resumed. 

"I  don't  care,"  cried  Miss  Jones;  "you  are 
mine  and  I  am  yours.  They  have  said  so  much, 
they  cannot  say  any  more;  besides,  no  one  need 
know,"  and  she  vanished  into  the  apartment. 

Mr.  Whackers  did  not  use  extreme  haste  in 
re-entering  the  front  shop  and  unlocking  the 
door.  When  he  had  done  so  he  admitted  Mr. 
Thomas  Bright. 

"  Hello,  Toby,"  cried  Tom.  "  Have  you  got 
my  costume  ready?  " 

"  Yes,  here  it  is,"  replied  Mr.  Whackers.  "  It 
is  all  done  up  for  you  in  this  box."  He  seemed 
anxious  to  have  his  customer  depart  as  soon  as 
possible. 

"Oh,  I  must  try  it  on,"  said  Tom.  "If  it 
doesn't  fit  me  like  a  glove  it  won't  do.  To  be 
sure,  I  gave  you  the  measurements,  but  tailors 
do  not  always  do  as  they  ought  to.  They're  re- 
sponsible for  a  good  many  misfits,  aren't  they, 
Toby?  " 

"  Oh  yes,  Mr.  Bright,  we  sometimes  make  mis- 
takes, but  unlike  some  shopkeepers,  we  don't  try 
to  cover  them  up." 


78  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  Oh,  you're  a  nice  little  fellow,  Toby !  How 
is  Miss  Jones?  When  did  you  see  her  last?  " 

Toby  was  not  willing  to  answer  the  latter 
part  of  the  question,  so  he  replied  evasively: 
"  This  morning  some  time." 

"  Why,  I'm  astonished,"  said  Tom.  "  I  saw 
her  coming  down  the  road  a  little  while  ago  and 
I  thought  sure  she  must  be  on  her  way  here." 

"  She  may  come  in  later,"  said  Toby,  not 
thinking  it  necessary  to  disclose  the  real  situa- 
tion. "  Well,  I  hope,  Mr.  Bright,  that  the  suit 
will  fit  you." 

"  Well,  Toby,  I'm  going  to  know  that  before 
I  leave  here.  I'm  going  inside  to  try  it  on," 
and  he  started  for  the  middle  room. 

"  Oh,  no,  no !  You  can't  do  that !  "  cried  Mr. 
Whackers. 

"  Well,  I  don't  see  why  not."  He  looked  into 
the  room :  "  It's  empty — unless  you  have  some 
person  hid  away  there,"  and  he  gave  Toby  a 
nudge  in  the  ribs  that  caused  the  little  man  to 
gasp  for  breath.  "  You  just  shut  the  door  and 
we'll  make  the  change  in  a  very  short  time." 

Tom's  statement   \?a§  true  and  but  a  few 


THE  TOYMAKERS  79 

minutes  had  elapsed  before  he  was  dressed  in  a 
suit  of  red  from  top  to  toe. 

"  How  do  I  look?  "  asked  Tom. 

"  Like  the  devil,"  said  Mr.  Whackers  in  a 
whisper,  for  he  had  been  cautioned  by  Miss 
Jones  not  to  use  profanity  under  any  circum- 
stances. 

"Nice  fit;  don't  you  think  so,  Toby?" 

"  Fine,"  said  the  tailor,  for  every  true  artist 
is  pleased  with  his  handiwork  when  it  does  him 
credit. 

"  Well,  it's  dark  as  pitch  outside,  and  I  can 
get  back  to  the  house  without  anyone  seeing  me. 
I'll  put  my  other  suit  right  in  the  box  and  take 
it  along  under  my  arm." 

Mr.  Whacker's  was  not  unwilling  to  have  his 
customer  depart  as  soon  as  possible.  He  closed 
the  shop  door  after  Tom  and  was  about  to  turn 
the  key  when  the  door  was  pushed  violently 
open.  Mr.  Whacker's  lost  his  balance  and  fell 
prone  upon  the  floor. 

"  What  the  devil  do  you  want?  "  he  gasped, 
forgetful  of  Miss  Jones's  admonitions. 

"  Why,"  said  Tom,  «  didn't  I  tell  you  that  I 


8o  THE  TOYMAKERS 

wanted  a  long  cloak  to  wear  over  my  costume? 
I  can  get  home  without  freezing,  but  I  can't  ride 
to  Dunmoor  Barracks  and  back  with  this  thin 
suit  on." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Mr.  Whackers,  "  I  forgot  all 
about  it.  You  stay  here  and  I'll  get  it  for  you." 
He  entered  the  middle  room,  closing  the  door  be- 
hind him. 

Miss  Jones  had  heard  the  outer  door  close,  and 
thinking  that  the  customer,  whoever  it  was,  had 
gone,  came  from  the  chamber. 

"  Who  was  it,  Toby?  " 

"  Oh,  that  young  fool,  Tom  Bright." 

"  Why  didn't  he  go  earlier?  " 

"  I  couldn't  get  rid  of  him  any  sooner.  Beg- 
ging your  pardon,  I  was  wishing  the  devil  had 
him  all  the  time  he  was  here." 

"  Why,  Toby,"  cried  Miss  Jones,  "  that  isn't 
swearing,  but  it's  very  near  to  it." 

The  next  moment  she  raised  her  hands  high 
above  her  head,  gave  a  sharp  scream,  and  fell 
prostrate  upon  the  floor. 

Toby  was  at  his  wit's  end.  What  had  hap- 
pened? What  should  he  do?  She  had  fainted ! 


THE  TOYMAKERS  81 

Water!  Water!!  He  turned  to  go  into  the 
front  shop  to  get  some,  when  before  his  aston- 
ished gaze  stood  the  form  of  Tom  Bright  in  the 
costume  of  Mephistopheles.  He  looked  at  Tom. 
He  was  the  cause.  There  at  his  feet  lay  the  body 
of  his  loved  one,  and  that  was  the  effect. 

"  Ha !  Ha ! !  "  said  Tom.  "  I  remember  what 
you  told  me,  Toby.  You  said  that  tailors  some- 
times made  mistakes,  but  they  never  tried  to 
cover  them  up.  It  seems  to  me  that  this  is  a  mis- 
take that  you  did  try  to  cover  up  and  failed  in 
the  attempt.  Ah,  Toby,  you're  a  sly  dog!" 
And  he  gave  the  little  tailor  another  nudge  in 
the  ribs.  "  But  we  must  bring  the  young  lady 
to." 

Tom  took  the  water  which  Toby  had  brought 
and  knelt  beside  the  prostrate  Miss  Jones.  He 
bathed  her  forehead,  rubbed  her  hands,  and  soon 
she  opened  her  eyes.  She  glanced  about  in 
search  of  Toby,  but  Tom  managed  to  continually 
change  his  position  so  as  to  obstruct  her  vision. 
She  was  soon  seated  in  a  chair  beside  which 
Tom  stood  fanning  her.  She  looked  up  at 
him: 


82  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  I  have  heard  what  you  said  to  Toby,  Mr. 
Bright." 

"  Now,  don't  worry  about  that,  Miss  Jones. 
We  both  came  here  on  business;  of  course  we 
both  wish  to  keep  our  disguises  from  the  knowl- 
edge of  others.  I  think  it  was  perfectly  proper 
for  you  to  hide.  Now,  when  we  get  to  the  mas- 
querade, if  you  won't  tell  anybody  who  I  am, 
I'll  keep  your  secret.  I'm  no  gossip  and  nobody 
in  the  village  shall  know  of  our  meeting  here 
and  its  consequences.  Good-bye,  Miss  Jones. 
We  shall  meet  again.  Now,  Toby,  give  me  my 
cloak." 

The  garment  was  produced.  Tom  gathered 
it  about  his  tall  form,  and,  with  his  box  con- 
cealed beneath  it,  made  his  way  homeward. 

Toby  made  sure  that  the  door  was  locked  be- 
fore he  returned  to  the  middle  room. 

"  Toby,"  said  Miss  Jones,  "  you  know  I  love 
you,  but  after  to-night  I  think  I  shall  always  like 
the  devil  just  a  little  bit." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  83 


CHAPTER   XI 

THE   SQUIRE  AND  THE  DRESSMAKER 

"  WHERE  are  you  going,  Boddley? "  asked 
Mrs.  Squire  Goldfish  in  a  querulous  tone.  "  You 
wouldn't  take  me  to  the  masquerade  because,  as 
you  say  you  told  Captain  Sabreton,  you  always 
remained  at  home  on  Christmas  eve." 

"  And  so  I  would,  Eunice,  but  it  is  a  visit  of 
charity  and  brotherly  love  that  takes  me  from 
my  warm  fireside  and  loving  spouse  on  such  a 
cold  night." 

The  Squire  spoke  often  in  public,  and  could 
be  quite  eloquent  on  occasion  at  home. 

"  Who's  in  trouble  now? "  asked  Mrs.  Cold- 
fish,  but  without  sympathy  in  her  voice. 

"  Our  worthy  constable,  Mr.  Quinn.  He  has 
had  a  bad  accident.  Doctor  Bunch  will  be  there 
and  we  must  to  all  we  can  for  the  poor  fellow — 


84  THE  TOYMAKERS 

and  think,  while  he  is  thus  incapacitated,  the 
village  has  no  guardian." 

Mrs.  Goldfish  sniffed.  "  He  hasn't  been  much 
good  since  he  broke  his  leg.  It's  a  wonder  he 
didn't  break  his  neck." 

"  I  am  astonished,  Eunice,  at  your  unchristian 
levity."  Feeling  that  sparks  might  produce  a 
flame,  he  put  on  his  mittens,  grasped  his  gold- 
headed  cane,  and  said :  "  I'll  not  be  gone  long. 
You  may  expect  me  home  in  an  hour." 

Constable  Quinn  was  in  an  arm-chair,  with 
his  bandaged  leg  resting  on  a  cricket,  when 
Squire  Goldfish  arrived.  Dr.  Bunch  had  been 
and  gone,  giving  his  patient  the  pleasing  infor- 
mation that  he  "  would  probably  get  out  again 
in  six  weeks,  if  he  used  crutches." 

"  Glad  to  see  you,  Squire,"  said  Mr.  Quinn's 
sister  Polly.  "My  brother  is  the  most  unfor- 
tunest  critter  in  the  world.  He's  always  tum- 
bling up  or  tumbling  down.  I  can  feed  him  all 
right,  but  I  was  never  good  on  nussin'." 

"  Squire,"  said  the  victim,  when  his  sister  had 
left  the  room,  "  I  want  you  to  do  something  for 
me." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  85 

"  That's  what  I  came  for,  my  friend.  Noth- 
ing could  have  drawn  me  from  my  warm  fire- 
side and — " 

"  I  wish  I  was  out  in  the  cold,"  broke  in  Mr. 
Quinn,  "  and  what  I  wish  you  to  do  will  give  you 
a  chance  to  enjoy  it — but  not  as  much  as  I 
would." 

"And  your  wish  is?'' 

"  I  want  you  to  go  to  Mrs.  Merrily  and  get 
some  worm  oil  for  me." 

"Worm  oil?"  cried  the  astonished  Squire. 
"  Why,  I  thought  you  had  an  accident." 

"  So  I  did.  Mrs.  Merrily's  husband  hurt  his 
hand  and  his  fingers  all  stiffened  up.  Somebody 
told  her  to  fry  worms  in  lard  and  make  a  salve 
— and  his  fingers  came  out  all  straight.  I  want 
some  for  my  knee." 

"  But  she  can't  dig  worms  with  the  ground 
all  frozen." 

"  She  don't  need  to — she  has  some  of  the  salve 
all  made." 

Squire  Goldfish  was  not  averse  to  calling 
upon  the  sprightly,  well-preserved  Mrs.  Merrily, 
and  he  started  off  in  his  journey  fully  impressed 


86  THE  TOYMAKERS 

with  the  belief  that  his  wife  could  not  but  com- 
mend his  act  of  brotherly  interest — although  he 
knew  that  she  disapproved  of  Mrs.  Merrily  be- 
cause she  dressed  so  extravagantly. 

Mrs.  Merrily  was  alone  and  took  her  visitor 
into  her  "  trying-on  "  room.  Weather  and  wife 
had  been  considered,  and  the  Squire  was  just 
on  the  point  of  mentioning  "  worms  "  when  the 
store  bell  rang  violently.  The  Squire's  first 
thought  was  that  his  wife  had  followed  him — 
she  had  done  so  on  more  than  one  occasion. 
Mrs.  Merrily  was  bringing  her  customer  to  the 
trying-on  room — he  must  escape  observation — 
some  village  gossip  would  tell  his  wife,  and  she 
would  never  believe  the  "  worm "  story.  He 
opened  a  door — there  was  a  closet — and  when 
Mrs.  Merrily  entered  the  room,  the  Squire  had 
disappeared. 

"  What  can  I  do  for  you  Miss  Smiles?  " 

"  I'm  going  to  the  masquerade  and  I  want  a 
costume." 

"  I'm  sorry,  but  I  haven't  a  thing  that  would 
fit  you." 

"  I'm  going  to  have  a  new  silk  dress,"  said 


THE  TOYMAKERS  87 

Sally,  "  but  I  suppose  I'll  have  to  go  to  Dun- 
moor  for  it." 

Mrs.  Merrily  and  Miss  Phippen,  the  Dunmoor 
dressmaker,  were  not  on  speaking  terms — with 
each  other — but  each  had  her  opinion  of  the 
other's  ability,  which  was  expressed  and  duly 
transmitted. 

"  No  need  of  that,"  said  Mrs.  Merrily.  "  Let 
me  think ! " 

The  Squire  had  found  himself  in  a  closet  filled 
with  petticoats,  and  gowns,  and  other  articles 
of  feminine  apparel.  What  else  could  they  be? 
He  was  nearly  suffocated  when  Mrs.  Merrily 
opened  the  door,  having  "  thought "  of  a  dress 
that  "  might "  suit  Miss  Smiles. 

Sally  broke  into  a  fit  of  uncontrollable  laugh- 
ter. As  soon  as  she  could  speak,  she  cried: 
"  Do  you  have  the  Squire  for  a  model,  Mrs. 
Merrily?  " 

The  Squire  was  flabbergasted.  Sally  was  all 
smiles,  and  Mrs.  Merrily  all  frowns.  How  could 
he  extricate  himself?  He  was,  at  heart,  an 
honest  man,  and  he  did  the  right  thing. 

"  Well,  Sally,  I'll  own  up.    I  came  to  get  some 


88  THE  TOYMAKERS 

worm  oil  for  Mr.  Quinn  who  has  hurt  his  knee. 
I  hadn't  asked  for  it,  and  when  I  heard  you — of 
course  I  didn't  know  it  was  you — I  thought  I'd 
go  in  the  next  room  until  you — I  mean  the  cus- 
tomer— had  gone." 

"  I'm  one  of  the  few  persons  who'd  believe 
every  word  you  say,  Squire.  I  don't  blame  any 
gentleman  for  coming  to  see  Mrs.  Merrily —  even 
the  married  ones — but  it's  mighty  lucky  it  was 
me  that  saved  you." 

"  Saved  me?  "  cried  the  Squire. 

"  Yes,  saved  you.  Supposing  it  had  been  your 
wife,  whom  I  met  a  few  minutes  ago,  you'd  have 
died  of  suffocation — over-dressed,  as  it  were — 
and  Mrs.  Merrily  might  have  been  held  for 
murder.  But  I  won't  tell." 

"  Of  course  you  won't,  Sally,"  said  the  dress- 
maker. I'm  sorry  I  haven't  any  oil  for  poor  Mr. 
Quinn.  My  bicycle  needed  oiling  and  I  used  it. 
The  machine's  been  wabbly  ever  since." 

"  It  sort  of  worms  its  way  along,"  remarked 
the  Squire,  who  was  a  constant  reader  and  great 
admirer  of  London  Punch — the  newspaper. 

"  Bravo !  "  cried  Sally.    "  I've  heard  it  before, 


THE  TOYMAKERS  89 

but  it's  good  just  the  same.  Now  Madam,"  and 
she  faced  Mrs.  Merrily,  "  do  I  get  that  cos- 
tume? " 

"Certainly,"  said  the  Squire;  "anything  you 
want,  only  have  a  mask  and  keep  it  tight  over 
your  mouth." 

"  How  will  this  do?  "  asked  Mrs.  Merrily,  as 
she  brought  from  the  closet  a  bright  red  dress,, 
stockings,  shoes,  and  hat.  "  Miss  Vanderstyne 
wore  it  a  year  ago — she  who  was  killed  on  the 
railroad — and  her  father  brought  it  back  and 
wouldn't  pay  for  it." 

"  Take  it,"  suggested  the  Squire. 

"  It's  all  I  have  that  will  fit  you,"  said  Mrs. 
Merrily,  plaintively. 

"  Oh,  just  to  oblige  you  I  will ;  besides,  I  am 
not  afraid  of  dead  folks'  clothes.  Orphans  don't 
get  much  else.  Do  it  up.  I'm  in  a  frightful 
hurry.  Then,  Squire,  you  must  see  me  home." 

"Well,  really,  Sally,"  he  began. 

"  It  don't  make  no  difference,"  said  Sally. 
"  I  saved  your  life  and  you  must  beau  me  home. 
Come,  you  take  this  bundle." 

The  night  was  dark  and  Sally  clung  to  the 


90  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Squire's  arm.  "  Do  you  know,  Mr.  Goldfish,  I 
thought  you  were  the  Old  Nick  when  you  came 
out  of  that  closet." 

"  Don't  mention  it,  Miss  Smiles.  Besides,  I 
was  not  dressed  in  red." 

"  Neither  is  he  when  he  goes  a-visiting.  The 
Good  Book  says  he  walks'  around  like  a  wolf  try- 
ing to  eat  lambs." 

"  I  hate  mutton,"  blurted  the  Squire. 

The  Squire  lifted  the  cape  of  his  coat  to  cover 
his  face,  for  a  woman  was  approaching.  She 
passed  by  without  noticing  them. 

"Who  was  it?"  came  in  a  whisper  from  be- 
hind the  cape. 

"  I  think  it  was  Mrs.  Goldfish,"  said  the  vera- 
cious Sally,  who  really  had  no  idea  who  it  was. 

"  So  much  the  better,"  thought  the  Squire. 
"  I'll  be  home  first,  and  if  she  talks,  I'll  de- 
mand an  explanation." 

They  were  near  the  little  red  mill. 

"Sally,"  began  the  Squire;  then  he  hesitated. 
"  Sally,  I'm  greatly  indebted  to  you." 

"How  much?"  was  the  quick  query. 

The  Squire  took  out  his  leathern  wallet,  and 


THE  TOYMAKERS  91 

by  the  dim  starlight  at  last  found  a  coin.  Sally 
felt  the  pressure  in  her  hand. 

"  Good  night,  and  a  Merry  Christmas,  Miss 
Smiles." 

"  Same  to  you,  Squire — and  pleasant  dreams 
— about  worms,"  and  she  ran  laughing  into  the 
house.  She  kept  her  hand  clasped  tightly  until 
she  was  in  her  own  room — then  she  looked  at  the 
glistening  coin. 

"  It's  all  mine — every  bit  of  it — and — and — 
and  I'll  make  him  pay  for  the  costume  too." 

The  Squire  tiptoed  upstairs.  "  Won't  she  be 
surprised  when  she  comes  home  and  finds  me 
in  bed?" 

He  lighted  a  candle  and  looked — his  wife  was 
fast  asleep !  He  opened  his  wallet.  "  Only  a 
crown,  thank  Fortune.  I  did  think  of  making 
it  a  sovereign." 


92  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE  CAPTAIN  AND  THE  MILLINEB 

ALL  the  young,  marriageable  ladies  in  Dun- 
moor  declared  that  Captain  Horatio  Sabreton 
was  "  a  darling  little  fellow."  He  was  short  in 
stature,  but  trimly  built.  His  hair,  when  dry, 
was  red,  but  when  saturated  with  bear's  grease, 
was  "  a  beautiful  dark  brown."  His  moustache, 
several  shades  lighter,  was  waxed  to  needle 
points.  His  feet  were  small,  and  his  hands 
white,  with  tapering  fingers.  All  in  all,  a  man 
better  suited  for  a  boudoir  than  a  battlefield. 
But  appearances  are  often  deceitful.  Captain 
Sabreton  was  brave  as  a  hungry  lion  and  had 
shown  his  valor  in  real  warfare,  as  the  medal  on 
his  breast  testified. 

He  was  the  third  son  of  the  Earl  of  Overland. 
Thomas,  the  eldest,  was  heir  to  title  and  estate; 
Reginald,  the  second  son,  had  gone  into  the 
church  with  a  handsome  living,  while  a  commis- 
sion in  the  army  and  a  small  yearly  allowance 


THE  TOYMAKERS  93 

had  been  Horatio's  share  of  the  patrimony. 
Thomas  looked  down  on  his  youngest  brother, 
but  "  Reggy  "  said  that  if  he  ever  came  into  the 
title  and  the  funds,  he'd  divide  with  "  Holly." 

The  Dunmoor  matrons,  with  human  flowers 
which  they  wished  to  have  transplanted  into 
other  people's  gardens,  regarded  "  Holly  "  Sabre- 
ton  favorably.  He  was  not  wealthy,  to  be  sure, 
and  his  two  brothers  were  abominably  healthy, 
but  he  was  "  in  society  "  fend  could  take  his  wife 
there.  Dunmoor  was  only  a  garrison  town  and 
seldom  visited  by  nobility,  and  only  once,  a  hun- 
dred years  before,  by  royalty. 

But  Holly  seemed  heart-proof  against  the 
Cupid's  arrows  shot  at  him  by  mammas  and 
their  progeny.  His  invulnerability  was  a  mys- 
tery until  its  cause  was  discerned,  and  then  the 
mystery  became  a  mixture  of  surprise,  and,  it 
must  be  confessed,  disgust.  Why  should  Cap- 
tain Sabreton  ignore  the  charms  of  the  Dunmoor 
belles  and  bestow  his  affections  upon  a  woman 
at  least  ten  years  older  than  he  was,  plain  surely, 
neat  evidently,  but — pshaw! — only  a  milliner, 
who  kept  a  little  shop  in  Middleton-on-Quick? 


94  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Miss  Ruth  Dunn  Moor — the  reason  for  his 
numerous  visits  to  Middleton — was,  in  a  way, 
also  a  mystery.  She  had  been  born  in  France 
and  was  never  seen  in  Dunmoor  until  soon  after 
the  death  of  Lord  Dunmoor,  when  she  appeared 
and  claimed  to  be  his  only  niece,  and  heiress  to 
the  estates  as  against  Ralph  Crowders,  a  cousin 
of  the  late  peer's,  three  times  removed.  A  legal 
battle  took  place,  but  Miss  Dunmoor  could  not 
prove  her  birthright,  and  her  claim  was  set  aside, 
with  an  injunction  not  to  use  the  name  "  Dun- 
moor." With  woman's  persistency,  she  took  the 
name  Ruth  Dunn  Moore,  and  what  she  lost 
alphabetically  she  gained  vocally. 

Miss  Dunn  Moore  closed  her  little  shop  door 
on  Christmas  eve  at  six  o'clock.  She  was  not 
going  to  Dunmoor  Barracks  to  the  masquerade. 
In  some  respects  she  was  a  timid  little  body,  and 
she  did  not  care  to  be  stared  at  by  the  girls  and 
lorgnetted  by  the  mothers,  and  know  she  was 
being  criticised  behind  her  back — and  even  to 
her  face. 

But  Holly  had  promised  to  come  to  see  her, 
and  it  was  just  6.10  by  the  ormolu  clock  on  the 


THE  TOYMAKERS  95 

mantlepiece  in  her  little  parlor  when  his  dog- 
cart stopped  at  her  door. 

His  present  for  her  was  a  dainty  brooch,  with 
a  receptacle  in  which  she  found  a  diminutive 
portrait  of  her  lover.  They  made  a  pretty  pic- 
ture as  they  stood  there — her  plain  face  suffused 
with  blushes,  and  her  eyes  bright  with  pleasure. 
He  was  in  undress  uniform,  and  looked  every 
inch  the  gay  cavalier — and  "  Boots,"  his  big 
collie,  wagged  his  black  and  orange  tail  to  show 
his  canine  admiration. 

But  the  joy  was  short-lived.  A  voice  was 
heard  in  the  shop :  "  Miss  Dunn  Moore !  Are 
you  there?  I'm  coming  in.  May  I?" 

Captain  Sabreton  caught  at  Boots's  collar, 
dragged  him  behind  a  long  pier  glass,  and  Miss 
Ruth  pushed  an  easy-chair  before  it,  as  the  glass1 
did  not  reach  to  the  floor.  Then  she  turned  to 
greet  Miss  Daisy  Dane. 

"  You've  got  company.  Who  is  it — Captain 
Sabreton?  I  thought  it  was  his  dogcart.  But 
where  is  Boots?  " 

The  Captain  had  Boots's  jaws  in  a  firm  grip 
to  prevent  a  responsive  bark. 


96  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Before  Miss  Ruth  could  invent  a  reply,  for  pre- 
varication seemed  absolutely  necessary,  Daisy 
went  on :  "I  suppose  he's  gone  over  to  the 
inn  to  wet  his  whistle.  Strange  that  young  men 
have  to  drink  wine  before  they  make  love.  But 
I've  come  for  my  Tyrolean  hat.  Is  it  ready?  " 

Miss  Ruth  was  inwardly  repentant  for  the 
falsehood  she  had  not  been  obliged  to  tell,  and 
grateful  that  the  conversation  had  been  turned 
to  a  business  topic. 

"  Yes,  it's  done,  and  it's  a  beauty,"  and  Miss 
Ruth  brought  it  from  the  shop  counter. 

Daisy  adjusted  it  jauntily  over  her  golden 
hair}  and  was  going  to  inspect  it  in  the  mirror 
when  Miss  Ruth  caught  her  arm :  "  What's  in 
your  basket?  " 

"  Oh,  my  boy's  costume.  I'm  going  to  try  it 
on  here  and  have  you  give  me  the  finishing 
touches.  Grandpa  and  Grandma  don't  know 
any  more  about  dress  than  my  dog  Toby  does." 

"  Oh,  no,  you  can't,"  cried  Miss  Ruth.  "  It 
isn't  at  all  necessary.  Somebody  might  come 
in." 

"  They  can't  if  you  lock  the  door.    Go  lock  it 


THE  TOYMAKERS  97 

— that's  a  dear.  I'll  have  my  things  all  off  in 
a  minute." 

Miss  Dunn  Moore  gave  a  sigh — a  long  drawn 
one. 

"  The  Captain  won't  mind  waiting  a  few  min- 
utes when  he  comes  back  from  the  inn.  Men  are 
always  good-natured  when  they  get  plenty  to 
drink — but  don't  let  him  in  until  I'm  all  dressed 
— then  I  won't  care  very  much.  He  won't  ask 
me  to  dance — besides,  Tom  won't  let  me." 

Miss  Ruth  locked  the  door,  but  lingered  in 
the  shop  as  though  she  were  waiting  for  the  Cap- 
tain's return.  "  Acting  a  lie  is  less  harmful 
than  uttering  one,"  she  thought. 

"  I'm  in  it!  "  cried  Daisy,  and  she  was.  Low 
shoes  with  buckles  and  clocked  stockings;  blue 
velvet  knee  breeches  with  silver  embroidery;  a 
fluffy  lace  shirt,  a  blue  velvet  jacket  and  a  tall, 
Tyrolean  hat  with  a  long  black  feather. 

"  On  the  Grampian  hills  my  father  fed  his 
flocks,"  cried  Daisy,  as  she  danced  about  the 
room.  Then  swinging  her  hat  she  gave  a  yodel 
that  was  too  much  for  Boots's  equanimity.  He 
broke  away  from  his  master,  gave  a  satisfied 


98  THE  TOYMAKERS 

yelp,  and  dashed  after  Daisy,  full  of  the  spirit 
of  the  occasion. 

Daisy  gave  Miss  Ruth  a  look  that  made  the 
little  milliner  shake  in  her  boots,  while  her 
blushes  were  supplanted  by  an  ashen  pallor. 
Daisy  tiptoed  to  the  mirror  and  looked  behind 
it.  There,  doubled  up,  was  Captain  Holly. 
Daisy  took  him  by  the  ear  and  led  him  forth. 

"  Are  you  a  peeping  Tom?  "  she  asked,  sternly. 

"  'Pon  honor,  no,  Miss  Daisy.  I  kept  my  eyes 
shut  all  the  time." 

"  Did  you  hear  anything?  " 

"  I  put  my  fingers  in  my  ears." 

"  Let  me  see  if  the  quicksilver  is  scratched  off 
anywhere  on  that  glass,"  and  she  made  a  careful 
examination.  Then  she  began  to  laugh. 

"  Don't  look  so  blue,  Miss  Ruth — and  you, 
Captain,  brace  up.  It's  all  my  fault.  I  had  no 
right  to  make  myself  so  much  at  home.  Pray 
forgive  my  thoughtlessness." 

She  began  to  put  her  discarded  garments  into, 
the  basket 

"  Are  you  going  home  that  way?  "  asked  Miss 
Ruth. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  99 

"  Why  not?  It's  as  dark  as  pitch,  and  I  want 
to  surprise  Tom,  because  he  won't  tell  me  what 
he's  going  to  wear." 

"  I'll  drive  you  home,"  volunteered  the  gal- 
lant Captain. 

"  No,  you  won't  You'll  stay  right  here  with 
your  own  little  girl,"  and  before  Miss  Kuth 
could  resist,  Daisy  caught  her  in  "her  arms  and 
kissed  her  on  both  cheeks,  which  were,  at  once, 
aflame,  partly  with  surprise  and  partly  from  in- 
dignation. 

"  Good-bye,  Captain !  I'll  see  you  later ! " 
cried  Daisy. 

When  Daisy  had  gone,  with  her  basket  under 
her  arm,  Miss  Ruth  took  both  the  Captain's 
hands  in  hers  and  looked  plaintively  into  his 
face. 

"  Did  you  peek,  Holly?  " 

"  Not  once,  my  love." 

Their  lips  met,  and  Boots  wagged  his  parti- 
colored tail  as  a  testimonial  of  the  reconcilia- 
tion. 


ioo  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER   XIII 

PRINCE   MEPHISTO 

THE  little  red  mill  was  as  quiet  as  the  grave. 
No,  not  quite  so  quiet,  for  occasionally  rats 
could  be  heard  scampering  across  the  attic  floor, 
and  a  succession  of  diminutive  squeals  indicated 
that  a  family  of  mice  was  ensconced  beyond 
the  pantry  wall.  A  candle  was  burning  on  the 
kitchen  table.  Mr.  Stubbs  would  have  inveighed 
against  it,  but  Sally  did  not  like  to  come  into 
the  mill  when  it  was  shrouded  in  darkness,  and 
had  left  the  candle  burning  despite  the  possi- 
bility of  receiving  a  severe  scolding,  and  perhaps 
a  more  serious  retribution,  for  Mr.  Stubbs,  in  his 
fits  of  anger,  had  often  used  his  stout  oaken  staff 
on  the  backs  of  his  nephew,  his  servant,  and  even 
his  only  son. 

The  door  was  opened  quietly,  and  a  tall  figure, 
enshrouded  in  a  long  black  cloak,  entered  the 


THE  TOYMAKERS  101 

room.  He  dropped  his  cap  upon  the  floor,  and 
stood  revealed — Mr.  Thomas  Bright  as  Prince 
Mephisto — clad  in  a  suit  of  red  from  head  to 
foot.  The  shoes  which  he  wore  were  cloven,  and 
the  red  hood,  which  fitted  tightly  to  his  head, 
had  projecting  points  symbolical  of  horns.  He 
put  on  a  mask,  with  sharp  nose  and  vengeful 
eyes,  and  looked  to  be  the  very  Devil. 

There  was  a  rattle  at  the  door.  Someone  was 
trying  to  lift  the  latch.  Tom  threw  his  cloak 
into  the  pantry  and  ran  behind  the  tall,  eight- 
day  clock  which  stood  in  a  corner  of  the  room. 

He  had  no  sooner  done  so  than  Sally  entered 
with  a  bundle  under  her  arm.  She  started  to- 
wards the  table,  intending  to  take  the  candle  and 
go  to  her  room,  but  as  she  extended  her  hand, 
Tom  gave  a  deep  groan. 

Sally  was  terrified.  She  screamed :  "  'Evans ! 
Oh,  'Evans !  "  And  hugging  her  bundle  closely 
with  both  arms,  rushed  out  of  the  room. 

Tom  stepped  from  behind  the  old  clock,  took 
off  his  mask  and  laughed  diabolically. 

"  Sally  would  have  the  St.  Vitus  dance  if  she 
saw  me  in  this  rig.  I  don't  believe  she  would 


102  THE  TOYMAKERS 

know  me.  I  think  this  will  do  for  the  masquer- 
ade. Everybody  will  say  it  is  a  devilish  good 
costume.  I  hope  Daisy  will  like  it.  Ah !  There's 
Sally  singing  to  keep  her  courage  up.  I  will 
scare  her  out  of  a  year's  growth." 

He  put  on  his  mask,  took  some  toys  and  a  long 
feather  from  a  shelf,  and  hid  again  behind  the 
clock. 

Sally,  who  had  put  on  the  costume  which  Mrs. 
Merrily  had  provided,  and  which  Squire  Cold- 
fish  had  paid  for  once  and  would  perhaps  have 
to  pay  for  again,  entered  the  room  singing  in 
a  loud  voice :  "  I  don't  care  for  nobody,  and  no- 
body cares  for  me." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  I  must  let  Tom  out,  so  that 
he  can  go  to  the  masquerade  with  Daisy.  She's 
a  pretty  girl.  They'll  make  a  handsome  couple 
— so  will  Johnnie  and  me.  I  have  a  hold  on  the 
old  Stubbs,  because  I  kept  my  eyes  open,  and 
that  improves  my  chances  of  getting  the  young 
one." 

Tom  gave  another  deep  groan. 

"  What's  that?  "  cried  Sally. 

There  was  another  groan. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  103 

"  'Evans !     Oh,  'Evans !     Ghosts !  " 

Sally  shook  with  fear,  and  then  remembering 
woman's  most  potent  weapon,  gave  a  shrill 
scream. 

Tom,  still  behind  the  clock,  said  in  his  deepest 
tones :  "  Sarah  Ann  Smiles !  " 

"Ough!"  Sally  shuddered.  "Old  Nick  is 
calling  for  me."  She  crouched  in  a  corner  and 
covered  her  face  with  her  dress. 

Tom  tiptoed  from  behind  the  clock  and  tickled 
her  ear  with  the  feather. 

Sally  slapped  her  face  and  exclaimed :  "  Skee- 
ters ! " 

At  the  same  moment  Tom  dropped  a  handful 
of  toys  and  some  blocks  of  wood  on  Sally's  head. 
She  jumped  to  her  feet,  gave  another  loud 
scream,  and  ran  to  a  corner  of  the  room.  Then, 
impelled  by  a  curiosity  which  she  could  not  over- 
come, she  turned  and  saw  Tom,  who  struck  an 
attitude  befitting  his  Satanic  costume. 

Sally,  terrified,  fell  on  her  knees.  "  Oh,  I 
say,  good  Mr.  Devil,  don't  hurt  little  Sally,  and 
she  won't  be  wicked  any  more." 

Tom    pointed    his    finger    at    her   and    said, 


104  THE  TOYMAKERS 

sternly :  "  It  is  time  for  you  to  reform,  Miss 
Sarah  Ann  Smiles!  Such  goings  on  with  Mr. 
Stubbs!" 

Sally  thought  to  herself :  "  He  know  s  all 
about  it.  Oh,  you  good  Mr.  Devil,"  she  im- 
plored; "you're  a  nice,  pretty  Devil.  I  didn't 
mean  any  harm.  Oh,  you  nice  Mr.  Satan,  I  did 
want  a  new  silk  dress  so  much,  and  a  kiss  was 
awful  cheap  for  it.  Don't  you  think  so?  " 

Tom  advanced  towards  her,  shaking  his  finger 
in  a  portentous  manner. 

"  Oh,  good  Mr.  Devil,  I  will  tell  everything. 
Mr.  Stubbs  is  going  to  give  me  a  new  silk  bon- 
net too." 

"  Ho,  ho !  "  cried  Tom.  "  So  the  father  is  kiss- 
ing you  as  well  as  the  son!  You  will  never  wear 
that  new  silk  bonnet  or  that  new  silk  dress.  You 
must  come  with  me ! "  As  he  spoke  he  grasped 
Sally  by  the  arm. 

"  Oh,  don't,  good  Mr.  Devil.  I  ain't  ready. 
My  trunk  ain't  packed,  and  I  have  the  Christ- 
mas dinner  to  get,  and  I  must  say  good-bye  to 
Johnnie." 

Tom    dragged    Sally    about    the    room,    she 


THE  TOYMAKERS  105 

screaming  wildly.  Then  he  released  her  and  she 
fell  face  downward  on  the  floor. 

Tom  gave  a  loud  laugh,  lifted  his  mask,  and 
leaned  over  her.  "  Sally !  I  say,  Sally !  Don't 
you  know  me?  " 

Sally  looked  up  and  her  face  was  a  picture  of 
disgust. 

Tom  pointed  downwards  with  his  finger.  "  So 
you  thought  I  was  the — ?  " 

Sallie  jumped  up,  laughing  boisterously. 
"Didn't  I  fool  you  nice,  Tom?" 

"  Why,  you  didn't  know  who  it  was." 

"  Of  course  I  did,  Tom." 

"No,  you  didn't  either;  if  you  had,  you 
wouldn't  have  confessed  all  your  little  secrets 
to  me." 

"  Why,  of  course  I  knew  it  was  you,  Tom,  and 
what  I  told  you  was  all  a  joke." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  you  made  it  all  up, 
Sally?  " 

"  Yes,  it  was  all  made  up — just  as  you  are." 

"  I'm  devilish  well  made  up.  Don't  you  think 
so,  Sally?  Don't  I  look  like  the  gent  down  be- 
low?" 


io6  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  I  hope  he  isn't  any  worse  looking." 

"  Is  that  a  compliment?  How  do  I  look,  any- 
way?" As  Tom  asked  the  question  he  pirouet- 
ted about  the  room. 

"  You  look  just  splendid,  Tom.  I  hope  Daisy 
won't  keep  you  waiting.  But  how  did  you  get 
out?  " 

"  Oh,  I  made  myself  a  key,  and  I  have  one  for 
the  outside  door  too.  After  all,  you're  a  pretty 
nice  girl,  Sally." 

"  Do  you  think  so?  Mr.  Stubbs  says  I  shall 
soon  be  a  friend  of  the  family." 

"  Uncle  Stubbs  will  never  let  Johnnie  marry 
you." 

"  That's  for  Johnnie  to  decide.  He's  a  man, 
ain't  he?  He's  twenty-one,  anyhow." 

Tom  hesitated :  "  Well,  yes,  he  has  one  quali- 
fication of  manhood." 

"  What's  that?  " 

"  Why,  he's  twenty-one.  Why  don't  you  go 
away,  then  if  Johnnie  is  true,  he'll  follow  you." 

"  Supposing  I  asked  you,  Tom,  why  you  didn't 
go  away?" 

"  I'm  staying  to  get  my  rights.     Somebody's 


THE  TOYMAKERS  107 

got  my  money  and  I'm  going  to  find  out  who  it 
is." 

"  Well,  I'm  staying  to  get  my  man — and  all 
the  money,  one  of  these  days.  I  don't  think  it 
will  be  such  a  bad  match;  do  you,  Tom?  " 

"  He's  a  little  fool.  You're  too  good  for  him, 
Sally." 

"  Well,  I  think  a  little  fool  with  lots  of  money 
is  better  than  a  smart  young  man  like  you,  Tom, 
without  a  shilling  to  his  name.  I'm  satisfied. 
My  market's  made.  I'm  going  to  marry  Johnnie 
Stubbs." 

"Well,  Sally,  I'm  glad  you're  going  to  get 
lots  of  money  with  him.  Why  doesn't  Daisy 
come?  Girls  are  always  late.  I  will  give  the 
signal;  perhaps  she  is  there  waiting.  She 
wouldn't  come  in  if  she  thought  that  Uncle 
Stubbs  and  your  intended  were  here." 

Tom  held  the  candle  before  the  window  and 
passed  it  back  and  forth.  He  listened.  There 
was  a  sound  of  clapping  of  hands. 

"  She  sees  it.    She'll  be  here  in  a  minute." 

Tom  opened  the  door  and  he  and  Sally  stood 
expectantly.  Daisy  entered.  Upon  her  head 


io8  THE  TOYMAKERS 

was  the  peaked  Tyrolean  hat ;  a  long,  gray  cloak, 
which  reached  to  the  floor,  encircled  her.  She 
threw  it  off  and  stood  revealed  in  the  costume 
of  a  Tyrolean  peasant  boy. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  109 


CHAPTER    XIV 

THE   SECRET   OUT 

DAISY  could  not  help  laughing,  for  both  Tom 
and  Sally  looked  astonished. 

"  Oh,  Tom,  it's  as  dark  as  pitch  out-doors,  but 
everything  looks  bright  and  smiling  in  here." 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  Tom ;  "  everybody  who  comes 
here  is  welcomed  by  bright  smiles." 

Daisy  looked  Tom  over  from  head  to  foot. 
"  I  should  judge  by  your  costume  that  you're 
going  to  play  the  Devil  to-night." 

Tom  put  on  his  mask  and  struck  an  attitude. 

"  You  look  just  like  him." 

"Are  you  pleased  with  my  costume,  Daisy?" 
asked  Tom. 

"  Oh,  it's  capital  in  one  respect — I  shall  have 
no  cause  to  be  jealous.  I  shall  have  you  all  to 
myself." 


no  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  I  don't  think  you  like  my  costume  very  well, 
Daisy,  or  you  wouldn't  give  such  a  selfish 
reason." 

"  Selfish,  Tom?  Do  you  call  it  selfish  to  take 
up  with  Old  Nick  when  there  will  be  princes,  and 
kings,  and  knights  there  in  profusion? "  she 
pouted,  and  looked  prettier  than  ever  when  she 
did  it. 

By  that  time  Sally  had  become  convinced  of 
the  truth  of  the  old  saying:  Two's  company; 
three's  a  crowd." 

"  I'll  be  back  in  a  minute,"  she  said,  as  she 
left  the  room. 

Tom  surveyed  Daisy  critically,  and  there 
was  no  tone  of  appreciation  in  his  voice  when 
he  spoke :  "  I  have  been  looking  at  your  dress, 
Daisy.  No  doubt  you  think  you  look  perfectly 
lovely." 

"  Well,  I  ought  to,  Tom,  when  you  look  so 
diabolical." 

"  You  ought  to  have  cavalry  boots  to  go  with 
those,"  and  he  pointed  to  the  knee  breeches. 
"  They  ought  to  come  up  high,  too." 

"  Why,  how  foolish,  Tom.     Tyrolean  boys  al- 


THE  TOYMAKERS  in 

ways  wear  low  shoes  with  buckles  and  clocked 
stockings." 

Tom  spoke  angrily :  "  Daisy,  I  don't  like 
them." 

"  Don't  like  what,  Tom?" 

"  Why,  those — those  breeches." 

"  I  know  why  you  don't  like  them.  It  isn't  be- 
cause they're  short,  but  because  they're  not  long 
enough." 

"Well,  I  don't  like  them,  Daisy,  that's  all. 
They  remind  me  of  Johnnie  Stubbs's.  I  thought 
you  were  going  to  wear  a  girl's  pretty  costume 
to  match  with  mine.  If  you  go  in  that — I  mean 
those — they'll  take  us  for  the  Devil  and  his 
lackey." 

Daisy  had  a  temper  of  her  own  and  it  began  to 
rise.  "  There's  nothing  particularly  handsome 
about  your  costume,  Tom.  I'm  sure  I  have  no 
wish  to  be  seen  dancing  with  the  devil,  even  at 
a  masquerade." 

Sally  looked  in  at  the  door :  "  Don't  you  want 
something  to  eat,  Tom?  I've  warmed  up  some 
soup.  It  will  be  almost  morning  before  you  get 
supper  at  the  masquerade." 


H2  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Tom,  who  was  in  a  sullen  mood,  answered: 
"  I  don't  want  any  supper,  and  what's  more, 
I'm  not  going  to  the  masquerade." 

Sally  was  astonished  to  hear  Tom  say  that  he 
was  not  hungry,  but  when  he  said  that  he  was 
not  going  to  the  masquerade,  her  eyes  seemed 
ready  to  leave  their  sockets,  as  she  stood  with 
wide-open  mouth.  At  last  she  exclaimed :  "  Not 
going,  Tom !  Why  not?  " 

Tom  did  not  reply. 

"  Why,  would  you  believe  it,  Sally,  he's  not  go- 
ing just  because  I  got  this  for  my  costume.  He 
doesn't  like  these,"  and  she  pointed  to  the  knee 
breeches. 

Tom  growled  out :    "  You  look  horrible." 

Daisy  was  quick  at  repartee :  "  Well,  you 
look  like  the  devil  in  your  costume,  anyway." 

Sally  interposed  a  query :  "  Why,  what  did 
you  expect  her  to  wear,  Tom  ?  " 

"  Why,  a  pretty  girl's  dress,  of  course." 

Sally  had  an  idea :    "  Say,  Daisy,  if  I  find  you 

a  pretty  girl's  dress — no,  I  mean  a  girl's  pretty 

dress — to  wear,  will  you  let  me  have  the  boy's 

costume?    I  want  to  go  to  the  masquerade,  but 


THE  TOYMAKERS  113 

I  just  hate  this  thing,"  and  she  gave  her  dress 
a  spiteful  swish.  "  Mrs.  Merrily  said  it  was  all 
she  had,  but  she  had  something  else  in  the 
closet — " 

"  You  can  have  it  and  welcome,  Sally,"  said 
Tom. 

Daisy  was  not  so  willing:  "  I  have  something 
to  say  about  that.  I  chose  this  costume  and  I 
am  going  to  wear  it." 

Tom  ignored  her  declaration,  and  turning  to 
Sally  asked :  "  Where  is  the  dress  you  speak  of?  " 

"  Oh,  Tom,  it's  such  a  funny  story !  You 
know  Mr.  Stubbs  always  keeps  that  closet 
locked/'  and  she  pointed  towards  the  door. 
"  Well  he's  got  a  big,  life-sized  doll  in  there,  and 
she's  just  dressed  elegantly.  This  afternoon  I 
caught  Mr.  Stubbs  just  as  he  was  putting  her 
back  in  the  closet.  Do  you  know,  he  thought 
that  I  thought  that  he  thought  that  I  thought 
he  had  a  live  girl  locked  up  in  there.  Oh,  Daisy, 
she's  just  lovely." 

"  I'd  like  to  have  a  look  at  her,"  said  Tom. 
"  She  may  be  larger  or  smaller  than  Daisy;  then, 
too,  the  door  may  be  locked." 


H4  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"Oh,  that's  all  right,"  said  Sally;  "I  have 
a  key." 

Tom  entered  the  closet  and  soon  returned 
drawing  the  platform  upon  which  stood  the 
dummy  doll.  "  Seems  about  your  size." 

Sally  clapped  her  hands :  "  And  as  I  live  she 
looks  just  like  Daisy." 

"  Uncle  Stubbs  is  a  man  of  taste,"  said  Tom. 
"  He  took  the  prettiest  girl  in  the  village  for  his 
model." 

It  takes  an  experienced  woman  of  the  world 
to  withstand  flattery,  and  Daisy  was  but  a 
simple  village  maiden. 

"  Oh,  Tom,"  she  cried,  "  the  Old  Nick  was  al- 
ways a  flatterer." 

•'  Yes,"  said  Tom,  "  and  always  succeeded. 
You  remember  Eve?  " 

Sally  stroked  the  doll's  silk  dress  and  care- 
fully examined  the  lace  with  which  it  was 
trimmed:  "Oh,  I  say,  don't  you  think  she  is 
superbly  elegant?  And  such  nice  clothes!  How 
about  that  trade,  Daisy?  Is  it  all  right?" 

Daisy  nodded.     "  Yes,  I'm  satisfied." 

Tom  felt  as  though  an  apology  was  needed: 


THE  TOYMAKERS  115 

"  You  know,  Daisy,  I'm  real  sorry  that  I  was 
ugly  to  you." 

Daisy  was  an  honest  little  girl,  so  she  replied : 
"  Well,  I'm  real  glad  of  it,  Tom,  for  now  I  shall 
have  the  most  beautiful  dress  at  the  masquer- 
ade." 

"  Let's  get  to  work,"  said  Sally.  "  We  have 
to  undress  the  doll;  then  Daisy's  got  to  undress 
and  put  on  this  dress;  then  I  have  to  put  on 
Daisy's  costume,  and  there's  lots  to  be  done." 

Tom  thought  this  suggestion  was  a  good  one, 
and  Sally  and  he  began  to  undress  the  doll,  but 
Daisy  interposed:  ."Torn,  don't  you  think  it 
would  be  more  proper  for  you  to  take  her  into 
the  closet  and  let  me  finish  undressing  her? " 

"  Well,  I  really  think  you  could  do  as  well 
without  me;  I'm  inexperienced,  and  while  you're 
making  your  toilet,  I'll  get  some  of  that  soup." 

Tom  drew  the  platform  back  into  the  closet. 
Daisy  followed  him.  He  soon  returned  and 
closed  the  door,  and  started  in  search  of  the 
soup,  for  now  that  the  matter  was  settled  in  a 
satisfactory  manner,  he  actually  felt  hungry. 


n6  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER   XV 

FROM  BOY  TO  GIRL 

TOM  was  not  allowed  to  enjoy  his  meal  undis- 
turbed ;  in  fact,  he  had  no  sooner  taken  the  bowl 
into  his  hand  than  Daisy's  voice  was  heard.  She 
had  left  the  closet  and  had  come  to  the  door  of 
the  room  in  which  Tom  was  sitting. 

"  Oh,  Tom,  it's  so  horrid  dark  in  that  closet, 
I  must  have  a  light." 

"  Why,  of  course,  Daisy.  A  lady  cannot  dress 
in  the  dark,"  and  taking  a  candle  from  the 
mantelpiece,  he  lighted  it,  and  went  as  far  as 
the  closet  door  with  her. 

Just  as  Daisy  entered  the  closet,  there  came 
a  flash  of  lightning,  followed  by  a  loud  peal  of 
thunder. 

"  We're  going  to  have  a  hard  night.  We'll 
get  wet  going  to  the  masquerade.  But  one  good 


THE  TOYMAKERS  117 

thing,  Uncle  Stubbs  and  Johnnie  won't  come 
home  till  morning.  Oh,  I  forgot  to  lock  the 
door." 

Tom  started  to  leave  the  room,  when  Daisy 
re-appeared  at  the  closet  door :  "  Oh,  Tom, 
there's  a  mouse  in  here,  and  you  know  I'm  so 
afraid  of  them.  Oh,  it  makes  me  c-r-a-w-1. 
Ugh ! " 

"  Nonsense,  Daisy !  Hurry  up !  Go  in !  "  He 
pushed  her  into  the  closet  and  closed  the  door. 
He  felt  the  pangs  of  hunger,  but  before  he 
reached  the  door  of  the  room  where  his  soup  was 
awaiting  him,  Daisy  grasped  him  by  the  arm. 

"  Tom,  dear,  there's  a  big  mouse  in  that  dress, 
and  I  don't  dare  to  touch  it.  You  must  come  and 
kill  it." 

Tom  grasped  her  around  the  waist  and  car- 
ried her  into  the  closet.  The  storm  increased  in 
violence.  Loud  raps  were  heard  upon  the  out- 
side door. 

Sally  entered  the  kitchen,  ran  about  the  room, 
and  looked  behind  the  clock  and  in  the  pantry: 
"Where's  Tom?  Where's  the  girl?" 

Sounds  came  from  the  closet.     Tom  was  try- 


n8  THE  TOYMAKERS 

ing  to  kill  the  mouse.  Sally  ran  to  the  closet 
door  and  rapped  upon  it. 

"  Tom !  Tom ! !  Tom ! ! !  "     In  a  loud  whisper. 

Tom  opened  the  door  hastily  and  ran  against 
Sally,  who  gave  utterance  to  a  stifled  "  Oh ! " 

"  What's  the  matter,  Sally?  " 

"  Both  the  Stubbs's  have  come  home.  Don't 
you  hear  them  at  the  door?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  pounded  upon  the  door  with  his 
heavy  oaken  staff. 

"  I  say,  Tom,  she  must  get  out  of  here,  or 
there'll  be  a  row." 

"  Who  must  get  out— the  doll?  " 

"  No,  the  girl.     She  must  cut  and  run." 

Tom  opened  the  closet  door :  "  Daisy,  come 
out !  Quick." 

"I  can't!" 

"  But  you  must,  Daisy !    Come !  " 

"I  won't!" 

"  But  you  must  come !  Why  can't  you 
come?  " 

"  Of  course  I  can't;  I'm  all  undressed." 

"  Open  the  door,  Daisy.  I  must  speak  to 
you." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  119 

"  Don't  you  dare  come  in  here !  " 

Tom  pulled  at  the  door  and  succeeded  in  open- 
ing it  a  short  distance.  "  Daisy,  Uncle  Stubbs 
has  come  home  and  we're  in  for  it.  If  he  comes 
to  the  closet,  you  must  play  that  you're  the  doll, 
and  fool  the  old  man.  It's  your  only  chance." 

"  All  right,  Tom ;  I'll  take  the  chance." 

"  Now,  Sally,"  said  Tom,  "  what's  to  become 
of  me?" 

"  You  must  hide.  Get  under  the  table.  No, 
your  legs  are  too  long.  Get  in  the  big  chest. 
No,  you  would  suffocate.  Get  inside  the  clock. 
No,  there  isn't  room,  unless  you  take  the  place 
of  the  pendulum.  Oh,  Tom,  you'll  have  to  go  up 
chimney." 

Tom  was  at  his  wit's  end.  "  Sally,  lock  the 
closet  door  and  hide  the  key.  Here's  the  door 
key.  Although  Old  Nick  lives  down  below,  this 
time  Old  Nick  will  upward  go." 

Tom  crawled  up  into  the  chimney.  Sally  ran 
and  locked  the  closet  door  and  put  the  key  in 
her  pocket.  The  pounding  on  the  outside  door 
now  became  so  great  that  it  seemed  as  though 
Mr.  Stubbs  had  determined  to  force  his  way  in. 


120  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Sally  approached  the  outside  door.  Raising 
her  voice  so  that  Mr.  Stubbs  could  hear,  she 
cried:  "Coming!  Coming!!  You're  in  a  great 
hurry,  it  seems  to  me.  Can't  you  give  a  poor 
girl  time  to  get  her  eyes  open?  " 

She  unlocked  the  door  and  opened  it.  Father 
and  son  rushed  into  the  room.  Mr.  Stubbs  threw 
his  hat  in  one  corner,  his  coat  in  another,  and, 
pulling  off  his  boots,  threw  them  at  Sally,  who 
managed  to  dodge  them  and  brought  him  his 
slippers. 

"  Sally,  run  upstairs  to  my  room  and  get  my 
little  blue  trunk,  and  remember  to  remember  to 
handle  it  carefully,  or  it'll  explode  and  blow 
you  to  pieces." 

Sally  ran  to  do  his  bidding. 

The  old  man  raised  his  arms  heavenward: 
."With  what  fond  anticipation  have  I  looked 
'forward  to  this  night!  The  almanac  says  it  will 
be  tempestuously  terrible,  and  it  is  terribly  tem- 
pestuous! My  son,  hear  the  wind  howl." 

;<  I  feel  like  howling  too,"  said  Johnnie.  "  We 
lost  a  good  supper,  Dad." 

Mr.  Stubbs  spoke  in  a  mysterious  and  solemn 


121 

way :  "  John  B.  Stubbs,  Junior,  namesake  of  the 
noble  father  who  stands  before  you,  listen !  " 

The  storm  had  increased  in  intensity. 

"  The  rain  pours,  the  snow  blows,  the  hail 
rattles,  the  thunder  roars,  the  lightning  flashes, 
and  the  wind  howls,  howls,  howls!  Don't  you 
hear  it?" 

Johnnie's  appearance  indicated  that  he  not 
only  heard  it,  but  that  he  was  much  affected  by 
the  situation.  He  managed  to  blurt  out :  "  I 
ain't  deaf.  I  wish  I  was." 

The  old  man  continued :  "  All  the  authorities 
agree  that  such  an  arcana  of  auditory  agitation 
is  admirably  adapted  to  the  anthropological  as- 
similation, and  I  am  confidently  corroborated  in 
my  belief  that  the  auspicious,  propitious,  ambi- 
tious, and  delicious  hour  has  come  when — " 

Johnnie  shook  his  head  and  said  in  an  under- 
tone :  "It  becomes  my  duty  to  send  for  an  ex- 
pert." The  thought  then  came  to  Johnnie  that 
perhaps  his  father  was  already  a  maniac,  and 
his  fears  were  shown  in  his  face. 

His  father  noticed  the  expression,  and  said, 
with  pathos :  "  My  son,  do  not  look  at  me  with 


THE  TOYMAKERS 

such  an  air  of  anxious  interrogation.  If  there 
is  a  sorrow  eating  into  your  young  heart,  a  fact 
which  the  suppressed  look  of  agony  on  your 
young  face  seems  to  indicate,  do  not  suffer  sadly 
and  alone,  but  confide  in  your  father."  Full  of 
parental  affection,  he  embraced  Johnnie,  who 
struggled  to  free  himself. 

"  Dad,  I've  long  had  a  big  suspicion  that  you 
were  driving  things  too  fast ;  got  too  much  steam 
on.  You  need  a  doctor." 

His  father  looked  at  him  inquiringly :  "  Sick ! 
Me  sick!  Where?" 

Johnnie  tapped  his  forehead:  "  I'm  afraid 
you're  touched  right  here." 

"Touched!"  cried  the  old  man.  "Touched! 
With  what?  Do  you  see  any  signs  of  impending 
decay  on  this  classic  brow?" 

"  Oh,  Dad,  you  run  on  so  queer  sometimes. 
You  know  first  your  hair  fell  out,  then  your  teeth 
fell  out,  and  I've  been  afraid  that  next  the  top 
of  your  head  would  fall  in." 

The  old  man  drew  himself  up  proudly :  "  Ah, 
this  is  my  reward  for  burning  the  midnight  oil 
and  digging  deep  into  the  mysteries  of  science! 


THE  TOYMAKERS  123 

Great  Heavens!  Why  do  men  of  genius  have 
such  fools  for  sons?  " 

Johnnie  felt  that  his  impressions  were  right 
He  tapped  his  own  head  and  glanced  at  his 
father  furtively.  "  He  was  wound  up  well,  but 
he  must  run  down." 

His  father  came  towards  him  with  a  smile  on 
his  face:  "Come  here,  my  darling  boy!" 

Johnnie  advanced  and  then  recoiled,  for  his 
father  had  assumed  a  tragic  attitude. 

"  Have  you  the  nerve,  Johnnie,  to  cast  your 
eyes  upon  the  greatest  creation  since  the  days 
of  Adam  and  Eve?  " 

Johnnie  hesitated  before  replying,  and  felt 
his  biceps  muscle :  "  I  have  considerable  nerve, 
Dad." 

His  father  grasped  his  arm  and  said  in  a  loud 
whisper:  "Then  listen,  John  Junior,  with  all 
your  ears.  I,  your  father,  John  B.  Stubbs,  manu- 
facturer of  toys  to  her  Majesty  the  Queen,  have 
made  a  girl — " 

"  A  girl?  A  real,  live  girl?  "  Johnnie's  bulg- 
ing eyes  betrayed  his  astonishment.  "  Where  is 
she?  " 


124  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Mr.  Stnbbs  pointed :     "  In  that  closet." 

At  that  moment  Sally  entered  with  a  little 
blue  trunk. 

Mr.  Stubbs  turned  upon  her  savagely :  "  Put 
it  down !  Go  to  bed !  Get  out !  " 

Sally  left  the  room  hastily. 

Mr.  Stubbs  turned  to  his  son :  "  Johnnie,  you 
will  soon  gaze  upon  a  lovely  creature." 

Johnnie  had  been  thinking.  He  turned  to  his 
father  with  a  sad  expression  upon  his  face.  "  A 
real  girl  in  there?  That  doesn't  speak  well  for 
you,  Dad.  Oh!  That  I  should  live  to  see  this 
day !  The  family  honor  is  compromised !  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  went  to  the  door  of  the  closet  and 
found  it  locked.  He  felt  in  all  his  pockets  for 
the  key,  but  could  not  find  it.  Exasperated  be- 
yond measure,  he  threw  himself  against  the  door 
and  forced  it  open.  He  entered  the  closet  and 
soon  returned,  both  hands  grasping  the  handle 
of  the  platform  upon  which  stood  "  the  doll." 

Daisy  had  considerable  difficulty  in  maintain- 
ing her  equlibrium  when  they  lifted  her  from 
the  platform,  but  her  motions  were  so  natural 
that  they  did  not  attract  any  particular  atten- 


THE  TOYMAKERS  125 

tion  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Stubbs,  who  had  turned 
and  faced  her.  To  add  to  the  illusion,  Daisy 
pretended  to  lose  her  balance.  Mr.  Stubbs  and 
Johnnie  sprang  forward!  to  prevent  her  from  fall- 
ing. 

"  Balance  her,  Dad.  Find  her  centre  of  grav- 
ity." 

They  finally  succeeded  in  having  her  assume 
an  erect  posture.  Mr.  Stubbs  put  the  platform 
back  in  the  closet.  While  he  was  engaged  in  do- 
ing this,  Johnnie  regarded  Daisy  from  all  points 
of  view.  Mr.  Stubbs  emerged  from  the  closet 
and  contemplated  his  handiwork. 

"  There,  Johnnie,  is  my  wonderful  doll."  He 
then  assumed  a  tragical  attitude.  "  Have  I 
worked  all  these  years  in  vain,  or  has  the  time 
come  when  by  the  judicious  unison  of  magico- 
electrico  formulas,  I  shall  give  life — yes,  life — 
to  my  marvellous  mechanism." 

Johnnie  placed  both  hands  upon  his  forehead : 
"  Insane,  and,  Oh,  Heavens !  Perhaps  it's  hered- 
itary." 


126  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XVI 

A  WEIRD  INCANTATION 

"  WELL,  Johnnie,  what  do  you  think  of  her?  " 

"  It's  a  female." 

"  Girls  generally  are." 

Daisy  made  a  mental  comment :  "  What  a 
homely  boy !  What  a  mouth !  " 

"  She's  well  got  up,  Dad ;  makes  a  good  show." 

"  I  sent  the  measures  to  Lunnon  and  had  her 
clothes  made  there." 

Daisy  thought:  I'm  right  in  the  style 
then." 

"  We'll  depend  upon  magic  first,  Johnnie.  I'll 
get  the  fireworks  ready,  and  if  magic  fails,  we'll 
try  the  electrical  machine." 

Daisy  shivered:  "What's  coming  next? 
They're  going  to  blow  me  up." 

Mr.  Stubbs  went  to  the  little  blue  trunk  and 


THE  TOYMAKERS  127 

took  out  some  books  and  a  pair  of  cymbals  and 
put  them  on  the  table.  He  went  back  to  the 
trunk  and  took  out  some  red  and  blue  Bengal 
lights  and  a  long  metalic  wand.  Then  he  sat 
down  by  the  table  and  began  to  look  over  the 
book. 

Johnnie  improved  the  opportunity  to  make  a 
particular  examination  of  Daisy.  He  pulled 
her  hair,  lifted  her  arm  and  let  it  fall  again, 
made  faces  at  her,  put  his  fingers  in  her  ears, 
and,  to  complete  his  atrocity,  tickled  her  face 
with  a  feather.  Through  it  all  Daisy  remained 
imperturbable. 

"  I  don't  think  much  of  her,  Dad ;  she's  a 
dummy." 

Daisy's  inward  thought  was :  "  He's  worse 
than  mice." 

Mr.  Stubbs  arose  with  the  open  book  in  his 
hand :  "  Don't  be  impatient,  my  boy.  She  is 
beautiful  as  she  is  now." 

Daisy  could  not  repress  a  scftly  whispered: 
"  Thank  you." 

"  But,  Johnnie,  when  she  becomes  a  living 
creature,  you  will  lose  your  heart  in  a  moment. 


128  THE  TOYMAKERS 

I  have  always  intended  that  she  should  become 
your  wife." 

Tom,  who  was  crouching  up  in  the  wide,  open 
fireplace,  heard  Mr.  Stubbs's  declaration  as  to 
his  matrimonial  intentions  as  regarded  Daisy, 
and  said  audibly :  "  If  she  does,  there'll  be  a 
widow  in  the  family  very  soon." 

"  Did  you  hear,  Dad?  "  cried  Johnnie.  "  The 
wind's  blowing  down  the  chimney." 

But  Mr.  Stubbs  was  too  intent  upon  reading 
his  book  of  magic  to  notice  his  son's  remarks, 
or  even  pay  attention  to  the  fearful  storm  that 
was  raging. 

"  My  son,  listen  to  this.  The  instructions  in 
this  book  are  marked  by  perspicuous  perspica- 
city. I  will  read  some  of  it  to  you.  '  The  per- 
son who  would  accomplish  a  wonderful  and  oc- 
cult transmigration — ' ' 

Upon  hearing  this  Johnnie  opened  his  mouth 
wide  in  astonishment,  and  stared  at  his  father, 
who  continued :  "  '  — this  beautiful  and  enchant- 
ing metamorphosis — ' ' 

This  word  was  too  much  for  Johnnie,  and  he 
increased  the  distance  between  himself  and  his 


THE  TOYMAKERS  129 

father,  who  went  on :  " i  — this  weird  and 
witching  work  of  conjuration,  this1  mystical 
materialization  of  a  mutely  morbid  mortal — '  r 

Johnnie  backed  into  a  corner  of  the  room. 

"  '  — must  have — must  have — plenty  of  light 
and  heat  in  the  room.' ' 

John  Junior  looked  at  Daisy:  "Wonder  if 
that  old  stiff-backed  dummy  understands  that !  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  continued  his  reading:  "'The 
scientific  necromancer  having  secured  the  proper 
optical,  thaumaturgical,  thermometrical,  barome- 
trical, and  climatological  influences,  must  then 
rely  upon  the  Black  Art  or  astrological  magic 
which  supplies  the  rules  of  life,  and,  if  necessary, 
upon  electricity,  which  is  life  itself.' ' 

"  That's  too  deep  for  me,  Dad." 

Mr.  Stubbs  did  not  notice  Johnnie's  remark, 
but  continued  reading :  "  '  From  the  Sorcerer's 
Fonetic  Speller  and  Automatic  Pronouncing 
Dictionary,  can  be  learned  the  modern  pronun- 
ciation of  the  potent  cabalistic  words.'  " 

He  threw  down  the  book  and  grasped  the  cym- 
bals which  lay  on  the  table :  "  I  have  got  those 
down  fine.  Zwing!  He  gave  the  cymbals  a 


130  THE  TOYMAKERS 

loud  clash.  Zwang!  The  cymbals  were  clashed 
a  second  time.  Zwong!  The  cymbals  were 
banged  together  a  third  time  and  the  reverbera- 
tions filled  the  room. 

Daisy  felt  a  cold  chill  running  down  her  spine : 
"  Ough ! " 

"  What  did  you  say,  Johnnie?  " 

"  Nothing,  Dad.    It  must  have  been  the  echo." 

"  Now  we  will  light  up,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs. 

One  of  the  Bengal  lights  was  placed  upon  the 
table  and  lighted. 

"  Now,  Johnnie,  we  must  begin  at  the  begin- 
ning. We  can  animate  her  by  sections.  We  can 
try  an  arm,  a  leg,  a  hand,  or  even  her  tongue." 

"  Let's  do  that  first,  Dad.  It  will  be  fun  to 
hear  her  tongue  wag." 

"  No,  we'll  save  the  tongue  until  the  last. 
We'll  get  enough  of  that  anyway." 

Daisy  remarked  in  a  low  tone :  "  It's  having 
a  long  vacation." 

"  What  did  you  say,  Johnnie?     I  heard  you 


"  I   didn't   say   nothing   to   nobody   no   time 
nuther." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  131 

"  Stop  thinking  out  loud  then." 

"  I  say,  Dad,  blow  up  one  of  her  lungs  and 
see  how  that  will  work." 

"  No,  we  will  begin  with  her  right  hand. 
Now,  you  stand  here  and  see  if  you  detect  the 
slightest  motion.  I  will  put  a  stick  in  her 
hand." 

Mr.  Stubbs  took  a  book  in  one  hand  and  the 
wand  in  the  other.  Finding  that  both  his  hands 
were  occupied,  he  said  to  Johnnie :  "  Put  that 
stick  in  her  hand  and  keep  your  eye  on  it." 

"  I  always  do,"  said  Johnnie. 

Mr.  Stubbs  did  not  notice  his  remark  but  con- 
tinued his  reading:  "'To  secure  the  first  mo- 
tion, make  a  diagonal  pass  across  the  subject 
with  one  of  Wallenstein's  patent  wands1.' '  As 
he  uttered  the  words,  he  passed  the  wand  diago- 
nally in  front  of  Daisy. 

Johnnie  was  so  interested  that  he  bent  over 
so  as  to  get  a  better  view. 

Mr.  Stubbs  continued :  "  '  — repeating,  at  the 
same  time,  the  three  cabalistic  words  Zwing! 
Zwang ! !  Zwong ! ! ! '  " 

As  Mr.  Stubbs  repeated  the  word  "  Zwing," 


132  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Daisy  brought  her  right  hand  up  with  as  much 
force  as  she  could  command,  and  the  stick  struck 
Johnnie  under  the  chin.  Johnnie  gave  a  loud 
yell,  and,  grasping  his  chin  with  both  hands, 
quickly  got  out  of  range  of  the  weapon. 

Daisy  held  her  arm  out  straight  from  the 
shoulder.  Mr.  Stubbs  was  immensely  pleased. 
At  the  word  "  Zwang,"  Daisy  brought  the  stick 
before  her  in  the  position  of  "  Present  Arms." 
As  Mr.  Stubbs  uttered  the  word  "  Zwong,"  she 
brought  the  stick  down  upon  his  head  with  such 
force  that  he  fell  to  the  floor. 

Grasping  his  book  of  magic,  he  examined  page 
after  page  intently.  "  I  cannot  find  any  expla- 
nation of  such  a  backhanded  proceeding." 

"  It  moved,  didn't  it,  Dad?  " 

"Yes,  slightly.  My  diagnosis  is,  that's 
merely  a  premonitory  symptom;  a  sample  of 
what's  to  come." 

"  Glad  you're  expecting  it,"  said  Daisy  in  a 
low  voice. 

Johnnie  still  fondled  his  chin :  "  If  that's 
what  you  call  a  sample  symptom,  Dad,  one's 
enough." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  133 

11  Yes,  my  son,  that's  a  symple  samptom.  It 
seems  to  me  I  remember  remembering  something 
about  it  in  this  book." 

Mr.  Stubbs  and  his  son  reclined  upon  the  floor 
looking  at  the  book  of  magic.  Daisy  faced  about, 
took  three  steps  forv/ard,  then  turning,  took 
three  more  steps,  resuming  her  original  posi- 
tion. 

Johnnie  stared :     "  Look,  Dad,  look ! " 

"  That's  all  right,  Johnnie.  That's  another 
symptom." 

"  Well,  if  it  is,  Dad,  I'm  going  to  look  out  and 
not  get  another  sample." 

Mr.  Stubbs  took  Daisy  in  his  arms,  brought 
her  near  to  the  book  of  magic,  and  balanced  her 
again.  As  he  did  so,  Daisy  puckered  up  her 
mouth  and  smiled  at  him. 

"  Look  out,  Dad !  That's  another  symptom ! 
You'll  get  the  sample !  " 

"  Come,  come,  boy !  Stop  your  nonsense !  This 
is  serious  business." 

"  You'll  find  it  is,"  said  Daisy. 

Mr.  Stubbs  grasped  Johnnie  by  the  shoulder: 
"  Shut  up !  Don't  answer  me  back  again.  My 


134  THE  TOYMAKERS 

thermometer  is  down  to  fifty.  It's  too  cold  here. 
Go  light  the  fire,  Johnnie.  We  may  need  some 
hot  water." 

"  I'll  get  you  into  hot  water,"  said  Daisy. 

Mr.  Stubbs  cuffed  his  son  vigorously :  "  Keep 
your  tongue  still !  Not  another  word !  Go  start 
up  the  fire." 

"  Oh,  Gracious ! "  said  Daisy.  "  If  they  light 
the  fire,  they'll  make  bacon  of  poor  Tom." 

Mr.  Stubbs  turned  and  gave  Johnnie  a  sharp 
blow  with  the  wand:  "Muttering  again,  eh? 
I'll  learn  you  to  sauce  your  father ! " 

Johnnie  arranged  the  wood  in  the  fireplace 
and  scratched  a  match.  He  held  it  too  long  in 
his  fingers  and  burned  them. 

Mr.  Stubbs  took  up  the  book  of  magic  and  ap- 
proached Daisy,  who  kicked  it  out  of  his  hand. 
At  that  moment  Mr.  Stubbs  felt  a  strong  incli- 
nation to  sneeze,  and  he  gratified  it.  Tom 
dropped  down  the  chimney  and  shook  his  red  leg 
in  Johnnie's  face.  The  young  hopeful  gave  a 
loud  yell,  scrambled  to  his  feet  and  ran  to  his 
father. 

"What's  the  matter,  Johnnie?" 


THE  TOYMAKERS  135 

"Big  red  leg  came  down  the  chimney! 
Reached  clear  across  the  room ! " 

"  Don't  be  a  fool,  Johnnie.  It  was  the  light 
from  the  fire,  of  course." 

Mr.  Stubbs  started  to  go  towards  the  fire- 
place when  Daisy  yawned,  making  a  loud  noise. 
He  came  back  and  looked  at  her  ruefully. 

"  I  don't  like  that.  It's  a  bad  sign.  Her 
nerves  are  unstrung.  She  needs  a  tonic.  Elec- 
tricity is  the  best  tonic.  I'll  get  the  machine. 
You  stay  here,  Johnnie,  and  keep  an  eye  on  her." 

"Don't  leave  me  here  alone  with  her,  Dad; 
please  don't." 

"  Well,  come  along,  you  coward.  It  won't 
take  us  a  minute  anyway." 

Mr.  Stubbs,  followed  by  Johnnie,  entered  the 
closet  from  which  the  doll  had  been  taken. 

Daisy  ran  to  the  fireplace :  "  Mr.  Satan,  are 
you  comfortable  up  there?  " 

Tom  replied :  "  It's  getting  hot.  I  shall  have 
to  drop  soon." 

Sally  looked  in  at  the  door :  "  Where's 
Tom?" 

Daisy  pointed  up  chimney :    "  Up  there.    Eun, 


136  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Sally,  and  get  some  water  to  put  the  fire  out. 
Too  late!  They're  coming." 

Sally  closed  the  door  softly,  and  when  Mr. 
Stubbs  and  his  son  returned  with  the  electrical 
machine,  Daisy  was  standing  in  the  same  place 
where  they  had  left  her. 

"  Now,  Johnnie,  put  out  the  lights,  for  the 
room  must  be  dark.  The  fire  will  give  us  all  the 
light  we  need." 

Daisy  made  a  gesture  of  despair. 

"  Johnnie,  go  and  call  Sally.  We  shall  need 
her  help." 

Johnnie  was  glad  to  escape  and  he  left  the 
room  calling  loudly:  "Sally!  Sally!!  Sally!!!" 

Mr.  Stubbs  soliloquized :  "  She  knows  a  little, 
so  I  might  as  well  let  her  know  all.  If  she 
wants  to  tell  now,  I'm  satisfied.  I  can  save  the 
price  of  the  new  dress  and  bonnet." 

Johnnie  came  back,  dragging  Sally  after  him. 

"  Sally,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs,  "  this  young  lady 
has  paralysis,  and  her  friends  sent  her  to  me  so 
that  she  could  secure  the  benefit  of  my  electrical 
treatment." 

Sally's  thought  was :  "  What  a  terrible  liar 
old  Stubbs  is!" 


THE  TOYMAKERS  137 

Mr.  Stubbs  said,  sharply :  "  Sally,  turn  the 
crank." 

Sally  grasped  Mr.  Stubbs  and  whirled  him 
about  so  quickly  that  he  nearly  lost  his  balance. 

"  What  are  you  about?  "  he  cried,  angrily. 

"  Turning  the  crank,"  said  Sally,  with  a  smile- 
less  face.  "  Just  what  you  told  me  to  do." 

Sally  grasped  the  handle  and  began  turning  it 
vigorously. 

"  No,  no !  Wait  until  I  give  you  the  order. 
When  you  hear  the  word  '  ready/  turn  the  crank 
as  fast  as  you  can." 

"  Of  course." 

"  Now,  my  son,  the  revolving  disk  generates 
the  galvano-electrico  current.  That  passes 
through  this  flexible  tubing  and  collects  in  these 
handles,  one  of  which  is  positive  and  the  other 
negative.  The  handles  are  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  subject.  The  electric  sparks  will  pass 
through  her  body,  and  her  health  will  be  greatly 
improved.  Am  I  lucid?  " 

"  A  very  simple  sample,  Dad.  I'm  glad  elec- 
tric sparks  ain't  going  through  me." 

"  Now,  Johnnie,  you  put  the  handles — one  in 


138  THE  TOYMAKERS 

each  of  her  hands."  He  passed  the  handles  to 
Johnnie.  "  Are  you  ready,  Sally?  " 

"  Of  course.  Did  you  say  '  ready,'  Mr. 
Stubbs?  " 

Johnnie  dropped  the  handles. 

"  No,  wait  a  minute.  I  want  to  see  how  long 
the  current  must  be  kept  on." 

Mr.  Stubbs  looked  in  the  book  and  Johnnie 
picked  up  the  handles  again. 

"  Ah,  here  it  is !  '  When  all  is  prepared,  give 
the  signal  to  the  operator  in  a  loud  voice 
READY,  and  then  count  slowly :  one,  two,  three, 
four,  five,  six,  seven,  eight,  nine,  ten,  and 
the— ' " 

When  Sally  heard  Mr.  Stubbs  say  '  ready,' 
she  began  turning  the  crank,  giving  the  full  ef- 
fect to  Johnnie,  who  danced  and  writhed,  being 
unable  to  let  go  of  the  handles.  When  Mr. 
Stubbs  finished  counting,  he  turned  and  saw  his 
son's  condition.  With  his  fists  clenched,  he 
rushed  at  Sally. 

"  What  are  you  up  to?  Why  didn't  you  wait 
until  I  said  '  ready '  ?  " 

"  You  did  say  it." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  139 

"  No,  I  didn't." 

Johnnie  came  to  Sally's  aid :  "  Yes,  you  did 
say  it.  I  heard  you." 

Mr.  Stubbs  rubbed  his  forehead:  "  I  can't  re- 
member to  remember  having  said  it." 

"  Well,  you  did  say  it,"  cried  Sally. 

"  Yes,  you  did ;  you  know  you  did,"  supple- 
mented Johnnie. 

"  Well,  I  didn't  mean  it,  Johnnie.  I  didn't 
intend  it  for  you." 

"  Well  I  got  it." 

"  We'll  try  again.  I  won't  make  any  mis- 
take this  time." 

"  No,  Dad.  One  simple  sample's  enough.  You 
give  her  the  handles  and  I'll  do  the  counting. 
It's  my  turn  now." 

Mr.  Stubbs  picked  up  the  handles :  "  Now, 
Sally,  don't  be  in  a  hurry.  Wait  until  you  hear 
the  signal." 

Johnnie  called  out :     "  Ready !  " 

Sally  did  not  see  any  need  for  waiting  after 
hearing  the  signal,  and  grasping  the  handle  with 
both  hands,  gave  the  machine  a  tremenduous 
impetus. 


140  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Johnnie  counted:  "One,  two,  three,  four, 
five,  six,  seven,  eight,  nine,  ten." 

Mr.  Stubbs  found  himself  in  the  same  predica- 
ment as  he  had  unintentionally  placed  his  son. 
He  was  unable  to  let  go  of  the  handles.  He 
kicked  and  danced  up  and  down.  His  face  was 
distorted. 

When  Johnnie  saw  what  had  happened,  his 
knees  quaked.  Sally  screamed  and  started  to 
run  from  the  room.  Johnnie's  feet  took  him  to- 
wards the  fireplace. 

As  soon  as  Mr.  Stubbs  got  free,  he  yelled: 
"  The  Devil  take  you ! " 

Tom  dropped  down  the  chimney  again  and 
shook  his  red  leg  at  Johnnie.  His  father  turned 
quickly  and  saw  the  apparition. 

"  Now  I  have  gone  and  done  it,  Johnnie.  The 
devil  is  coming." 

Tom's  both  legs  appeared  in  sight;  then  his 
body,  and  finally  his  head.  He  stood  erect  and 
struck  an  attitude.  Mr.  Stubbs  and  his  son  lay 
prone  upon  the  floor  and  gazed  at  his  Satanic 
majesty. 

Tom   approached  them   and  kicked   Johnnie 


THE  TOYMAKERS  141 

with  his  foot.  Mr.  Stubbs  was  so  frightened 
that  he  crossed  the  room  and  dived  head  fore- 
most under  the  table.  Johnnie,  seeing  that  he 
was  left  alone,  gave  a  loud  jell,  and  walked  on 
his  knees  towards  Tom. 

Prince  Mephisto  pointed  his  finger  at  him,  and 
Johnnie  fell  backwards.  Tom  took  him  by  the 
ear  with  one  hand  and,  grasping  Mr.  Stubbs's 
leg  with  the  other,  dragged  him  from  under  the 
table.  Mr.  Stubbs  and  Johnnie  knelt,  with  their 
hands  clasped,  in  an  attitude  of  supplication. 

Raising  his  hand,  Tom  said,  in  sepulchral 
tones : 

"  Good  Mr.  Bull,  your  summons  I  did  hear, 
Did  quick  respond,  and  stand  before  you  here. 
What  is  your  wish  ?    If  you  the  price  will  pay, 
It  shall  be  done,  for  I  can  find  a  way." 

Johnnie  sniffled:     "Oh,  good  Mr.  Devil,  be 
easy  on  a  poor  orphan." 

"  I  never  called  on  you,"   said   Mr.   Stubbs. 
"  You've  got  in  the  wrong  house." 
Prince  Mephisto  again  spoke: 

"  Prevaricate  no  more.    I  know  your  thought, 
Can  understand  why  for  my  aid  you  sought. 
Am  I  not  right  ?    You'd  make  your  son  a  bride, 
That  maiden  there  (He  pointed  to  Daisy)  you  wish  electri- 
fied." 


142  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  It's  all  Dad's  fault,  Mr.  Devil.  I  don't  want 
her.  I  have  a  girl." 

"  Shut  up,  Johnnie !  Don't  be  so  familiar 
with  his  majesty." 

"  Mr.  Stubbs,"  said  Tom,  "  do  you  wish  her  to 
live,  or  have  you  been  trifling  with  me?  " 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Devil,  just  a  little  bit  of  life." 

Johnnie  added :  "  Just  a  little  bit,  Mr.  Devil, 
but  not  too  much." 

"  Your  wish  shall  be  gratified,"  said  Tom.  "  I 
give  you  my  word.  Yes,  she  shall  live." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  143 


CHAPTER  XVII 

THE  VITAL  SPAEK 

MR.  STUBBS  and  his  son  were  in  a  state  of 
abject  subjection.  The  Devil  dominated  every- 
thing, and  they  awaited  his  next  movement  with 
feelings  of  irrepressible  fear  and  unsatisfied 
curiosity. 

Tom  did  not  keep  them  waiting  for  the  de- 
nouement. He  took  Daisy's  hand  in  his  and 
looked  into  her  bright,  but  apparently  sightless, 
eyes.  Then  he  spoke : 

"  There  is  no  way  but  this  to  wake  a  sleeping 
angel.  I  take  her  hand  in  mine,  and  I  press  a 
kiss  upon  her  lips.  You  see,  she  opens  her  eyes. 
Now,  as  the  vital  spark  permeates  her  body,  she 
shakes  and  shivers.  In  me  is  vested  the  power 
to  kill  or  to  bring  back  to  life.  Thou  creature 
of  man's  ingenuity,  I  bid  you  live!  Live!! 
Live ! ! !  " 


144  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  Oh,  Dad,  she's  alive,"  cried  Johnnie. 

Mr.  Stubbs  was  delighted.  In  the  exuberance 
of  his  emotion,  he  put  his  arm  about  Sally's 
waist,  which  act  attracted  Johnnie's  attention, 
and  grasping  his  father's  hand,  he  gave  him  a 
quick  turnabout,  which  left  Sally  free. 

Daisy  did  not  know  just  how  to  be  "  born 
again,"  but  her  audience  was  not  ultra-critical. 
Throwing  her  arms  wide  apart,  she  faced  the 
astonished  Mr.  Stubbs  and  his  son  and  cried: 

"  Look  at  me!  Why  was  I  made?  Why  do  I 
look  as  I  do?  Who  gave  me  these  fine  clothes — 
why  do  you  smile  and  bow?  " 

She  examined  her  arm  and  hand :  "  Why  is 
my  arm  so  white?  Why  are  my  hands  so  small, 
when  yours  are  big  and  bony?  "  She  placed  both 
hands  upon  her  waist.  "  Why  was  this  dress 
made  so  tight?  Why  am  I  so  short  when  you 
are  so  tall  ?  "  She  directed  all  her  inquiries  to 
Mr.  Stubbs,  who  stood  speechless. 

u  Ain't  she  a  stunner,  Sally?  "  asked  Johnnie. 
"  I'll  go  and  have  a  talk  with  her." 

He  did  not  go  far,  for  Sally  caught  his  arm 
and  pulled  him  back.  Tom  brought  a  chair  and 


THE  TOYMAKESR  145 

Daisy  sat  down.     Mr.  Stubbs  now  felt  it  incum- 
bent upon  him  to  speak  to  his  revivified  creation. 

"  My  dear,  you  have  a  sweet  voice.  Won't 
you  sing  us  a  song?  "  , 

"  No,  I  won't.     I'm  tired  and  hungry,  and  I . 
want  my  supper." 

"  You  hear  that,  Sally,"  said  Johnnie.  "  She 
ain't  been  born  more  than  five  minutes  and  she 
wants  to  eat.  I'm  going  to  talk  to  her." 

He  started  forward,  but  came  back  suddenly, 
for  Sally  was  quick  motioned  and  energetic. 

"  I'm  very  sorry,  my  dear,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs, 
"  but  our  larder,  to-night,  instead  of  being  fat 
was  never  leaner.  But  I'll  send  my  lazy  nephew 
for  some  food." 

Tom  interposed :  "  Oh,  no.  Don't  wake  the 
poor  boy.  I  know  how  you've  used  that  young 
man,  Mr.  Stubbs.  After  suffering  the  terrible 
pangs  of  hunger,  he  has  fallen  into  a  troubled 
sleep  in  which  he  imagines  he  has  all  the  deli- 
cacies of  Lucullus  before  him.  I  have  helped 
you,  Mr.  Stubbs,  because  you  and  I,  and  your 
son,  too,  will  be  near  neighbors  one  of  these 
days." 


146  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Johnnie  became  inquisitive :    "  Where  do  yon 

live,  Mr. ?  " 

Tom  looked  as  Satanic  as  possible: 

"  Where  ray  of  sun  strikes  not,  and  yet  'tis  hot, — 
Cold  drinks  are  craved  by  all,  who  get  them  not. 
'  A  bourne  from  which  no  traveller  returns,' 
For  in  each  heart  a  love  of  country  burns. 
There's  room  for  all,  and  when  each  is  my  guest, 
My  hospitality  you'll  see  expressed. 
I  will  not  wait — no,  no,  this  very  hour, 
We  all  will  sup — I  have  the  magic  power. 
Your  best  room  seek,  upon  your  festive  board, 
You'll  find  spread  out,  all  that  the  times  afford. 
Fish,  flesh,  and  fowl,  for  wine,  a  rich  Champagne — 
When  that  is  gone,  you've  but  to  call  again." 

"  Come,  Dad !    Come  on !  "  cried  Johnnie. 

Mr.  Stubbs  whispered  in  his  son's  ear: 
"  We'll  call  for  enough  so's  to  have  some  left 
over  for  to-morrow." 

As  they  left  the  room,  Daisy  ran  to  Tom: 
"  Why,  what  do  you  mean?  They'll  find  no  sup- 
per there." 

Sally  winked :    "  Oh,  yes,  they  will." 

"  But  how?  "  cried  Daisy. 

Tom  laughed :  "  Well,  I  didn't  stay  up 
chimney  all  the  time.  I  saw  Uncle  hide  some 
money  in  the  seat  of  his  big  leathern  chair,  and 


THE  TOYMAKERS  147 

that  bought  the  supper.  But  come,  or  they  will 
grow  suspicious.  You're  a  born  actress,  Daisy, 
and  Sally  is  a  trump.  She  set  the  table,  but 
they  must  think  the  Devil  did  it  all — and  pays 
the  bills." 


148  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

A  SUPPER  FOR  THREE 

WHEN  Johnnie  entered  the  best  room  and  saw 
the  table  spread  for  supper,  he  could  not  re- 
strain his  feelings.  To  express  them  he  did 
not  use  words,  but  began  to  whistle,  and  as  he 
whistled,  he  walked  about  the  room,  surveying 
the  table  admiringly.  He  was  soon  followed  by 
his  father.  Johnnie's  whistling  must  have  been 
infectious,  for  at  sight  of  the  well  spread  table, 
Mr.  Stubbs  began  to  whistle.  Their  whistling 
did  not  take  the  form  of  a  tune.  They  simply 
had  recourse  to  it  because  it  was  easier  to 
whistle  than  to  talk.  If  they  had  spoken,  their 
language  would  have  been  a  succession  of  inter- 
jections :  "  Oh !  Ah !  Urn !  Oh !  Ah !  Urn  !  " 

The  impromptu  concert  preliminary  to  the 
gastronomic  repast  was  brought  to  a  close  by 
the  entrance  of  Tom,  Daisy,  and  Sally. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  149 

There  were  but  three  chairs  at  the  table,  and 
Johnnie,  raising  his  left  hand,  counted  on  his 
fingers :  "  One,  two,  three,  four,  five." 

"  Come  now,  and  take  your  seats,"  said  Tom. 
The  young  lady  here  at  the  head  of  the  table; 
you  opposite,  Mr.  Stubbs — there,  and  your  son 
here.  Your  servant  will  wait  on  the  table." 

"  Say,"  cried  Johnnie,  turning  to  Tom,  "  ain't 
you  going  to  stay?  " 

"  Ladies  and  gentlemen,  pray  excuse  me ;  I 
shall  be  obliged  to  bid  you  good  evening." 

"Why,"  cried  Johnnie,  "you  ain't  going! 
Why  don't  you  stay  and  have  a  good  time?  " 

"  I'm  very  sorry,  but  I  have  many  calls  to 
make,  and  when  I  miss  any  of  my  regular  visits, 
my  friends  are  always  disappointed." 

Johnnie  looked  up  smilingly :  "  Too  bad  you 
can't  stay.  Come  again  when  you  can  make  us 
a  longer  visit." 

"  Thank  you  for  your  kind  invitation.  While 
you  are  enjoying  the  repast  now  spread  before 
you,  remember  that  Prince  Mephisto  is  not  so 
black  as  he  is  painted." 

Mr.  Stubbs,  who  had  lost  no  time  in  sampling 


i5o  THE  TOYMAKERS 

some  of  the  viands,  looked  up  and  smilingly  re- 
marked :  "  We'll  remember  to  remember  that." 

Tom  bowed  very  low ;  Mr.  Stubbs  and  Johnnie 
scrambled  to  their  feet  and  returned  the  saluta- 
tion ;  Sally  dropped  a  pretty  courtesy,  and  Daisy 
waved  her  hand  as  a  token  of  farewell.  As 
Johnnie  resumed  his  seat  he  looked  towards  the 
door,  but  Prince  Mephisto  had  disappeared. 

Johnnie  felt  called  upon  to  compliment  their 
visitor :  "  He's  a  gentleman  from  top  to  toe. 
I  think  we  could  get  along  first-rate  together." 

Mr.  Stubbs  reflectively  scratched  the  top  of 
his  head,  upon  which  no  hair  had  rested  for 
many  years :  "  I  did  not  take  to  him  extraordin- 
arily at  first,  but  he  improved  on  acquaintance, 
and  I  may  learn  to  like  him  some  time.  Now, 
let's  fall  to." 

"  Hold  on,  Dad !  "  cried  Johnnie.  "  Before 
we  begin  our  tear — I  mean  tour — through  the 
bountiful  repast  that  our  kind  visitor  has  pro- 
vidid,  I  think  we  should  drink  a  toast  in  honor 
of  this  young  lady,"  and  he  smiled  unutterable 
things  at  Daisy,  who  turned  up  her  nose  at  him 
and  winked  her  left  eye. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  151 

"  Well,  go  ahead,  Johnnie ;  but  the  things  are 
getting  cold." 

Young  Mr.  Stubbs,  after  apparently  vehement 
exertions,  succeeded  in  drawing  the  cork  from  a 
bottle  of  champagne,  and  filled  his  father's  glass 
and  his  own.  He  attempted  to  turn  some  of  the 
wine  into  Daisy's  glass,  but  she  drew  it  away 
and  crashed  it  upon  the  floor. 

"  Won't  you  have  some?  "  asked  Johnnie. 

"  No ;  I  never  drink." 

"  Now,  Johnnie,  we're  all  ready.  Pass  the 
soup,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs. 

"  Wait  a  minute,"  said  Daisy.  "  This  table 
isn't  set  to  suit  me.  I  never  can  eat  unless  every- 
thing is  in  the  right  place." 

"Can  I  help  you,  marm?"  asked  Sally. 

"  No,  thank  you." 

Mr.  Stubbs  turned  about  in  his  chair: 
"  Sally,  go  to  bed.  We  can  get  along  very  well 
without  you  now." 

As  soon  as  Sally  was  out  of  sight  of  the  door, 
she  had  a  self-communion :  "  I'm  glad  of  it. 
Now  I  will  go  and  get  ready  for  the  masquerade. 
I  am  so  glad  I  have  not  got  to  wear  that  horrid 


\ 


152  THE  TOYMAKERS 

old  dress  Mrs.  Merrily  picked  out  for  me.  The 
boy's  costume  that  Daisy  had  will  suit  me  to  a 
T.  But  won't  she  make  it  lively  for  them?  " 

Daisy  had  evidently  begun  making  it  lively 
for  them,  having  arranged  the  food  and  dishes 
upon  the  table  in  a  very  grotesque  manner. 

Johnnie  whispered  to  his  father :  "  I  say, 
Dad,  I  don't  think  she  was  brought  up  in  a  first- 
class  hotel;  do  you?  She  has  a  funny  way  of 
fixing  things." 

"  WTell,  Johnnie,  we  must  not  be  too  particular 
at  first.  They  probably  do  things  different  where 
she  came  from." 

By  this  time  Daisy  had  arranged  the  table  to 
her  apparent  satisfaction,  even  if  it  did  not  suit 
her  companions. 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  everything  suits  me. 
Come,  I'm  hungry." 

Mr.  Stubbs  passed  Daisy  some  soup :  "  Won't 
you  try  this?  " 

She  tasted  it,  then  pushed  the  dish  away :  "  I 
don't  like  it.  Skillagalee!  Eat  it  yourself." 

Mr.  Stubbs  was  disposed  to  be  very  polite,  as 
he  supposed  the  meal  did  not  cost  him  anything. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  153 

He  passed  another  dish :    "  Try  this,  my  dear." 

"  What  is  it?  " 

Johnnie  smiled  and  said:     "  Skilligalo !  " 

Daisy  took  a  taste,  and  then,  raising  her  plate, 
threw  the  contents  in  Mr.  Stubbs's  face :  "  Oh, 
what  horrid  stuff.  Do  you  want  to  poison  me, 
you  wicked  old  man?" 

Mr.  Stubbs  jumped  to  his  feet  and  began  wip- 
ing his  face,  inwardly  commenting:  "She  has 
an  angelic  temper." 

Johnnie    felt    called    upon    to   act    as    host: 

"  Here's  some  nice  boiled  calve's  head  and 
dumplings." 

Daisy  scowled  at  him :  "  You  had  better  eat 
all  that.  They  say  every  part  strengthens  a  part." 

Johnnie  did  not  like  the  imputation.  He 
made  a  face  at  Daisy  and  said :  "  Here's  some 
cold  tongue — that's  what  you  want." 

Mr.  Stubbs  felt  called  upon  to  interfere: 
"  John  Junior,  don't  forget  your  bringing  up. 
Remember  to  remember  there's  a  lady  present." 
He  addressed  Daisy :  "  Won't  you  try  some 
game — a  slice  of  this  canvas  back  duck?" 

Daisy     laughed     immoderately :       "  Canvas 


154  THE  TOYMAKERS 

back?  Game?  Why,  that's  a  boarding-house 
chicken." 

Johnnie,  who  was  inclined  to  be  jocose,  added : 
"  Winter-killed." 

Mr.  Stubbs  seemed  to  be  impressed  with  the 
levity  of  the  occasion :  "  Boarding-house 
chickens  always  have  canvas  backs,  leather 
sides1,  and  lead  stuffing.  Just  the  thing  to  make 
game  of." 

They  had  now  reached  the  dessert.  He  passed 
Daisy  a  piece  of  pie :  "  Won't  you  have  some 
sunflower  pie?" 

"  That  ain't  sunflower  pie ;  that's  squash." 

"  Now  I  have  you !  "  cried  Johnnie.  'Tain't 
either;  it's  pumpkin." 

Daisy  took  an  empty  plate  and  pressed  it 
down  over  the  top  of  the  pie :  "  Now  it's  squash," 
she  said  triumphantly. 

Johnnie  took  up  a  plate  containing  a  cake: 
"  Here's  some  wedding  cake."  He  tapped  it 
with  his  finger :  "  There's  no  ring  in  it."  He 
struck  it  with  his  fist.  "'Tain't  wedding  cake; 
I  guess  it's  pound  cake."  He  passed  it  to  Daisy, 
who  took  it  from  the  plate  and  threw  it  at  him. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  155 

"  You  take  the  cake."  She  turned  to  Mr. 
Stubbs :  "  I  want  some  champagne  quick." 

Mr.  Stubbs  filled  a  glass  and  passed  it  to  her. 

"  Now  I  want  some  bread,"  she  exclaimed. 

"Here's  a  nice  loaf;  just  baked;  fresh  and 
warm,"  and  Mr.  Stubbs  passed  it  to  her. 

She  grasped  a  knife  and  cut  a  couple  of  slices. 
While  she  was  doing  this,  Mr.  Stubbs  and 
Johnnie  refilled  their  glasses,  and  were  in  the  act 
of  drinking  when  Daisy  cried : 

"  Nice  and  warm,  eh?  Just  baked?  Six  weeks 
old,  I  should  say !  Hard  as  a  rock !  " 

She  threw  a  slice  of  bread  at  Johnnie.  The 
first  one  missed,  but  the  second  was  a  good  shot 
and  knocked  the  glass  from  his  hand. 

Mr.  Stubbs  leaned  over  to  put  his  empty  glass 
upon  the  table.  As  he  did  so,  the  loaf  of  bread 
struck  him  in  the  ear. 

Johnnie  whispered  to  his  father :  "  What  does 
she  want,  anyway?  She  must  have  dyspepsia." 

Mr.  Stubbs  still  felt  it  necessary  to  placate  his 
guest,  so  he  asked,  smilingly :  "  Won't  you  have 
another  glass  of  cham-cham?  " 

Daisy  jumped  up :     "  No !     I  am  not  thirsty. 


156  THE  TOYMAKERS 

I  am  not  hungry.  I  won't  drink.  I  won't  eat. 
I  want  both  of  you  to  sing  and  dance,  and  tell 
stories,  and  do  all  you  can  to  amuse  me." 

"  Oh !  "  saidj  Johnnie,  satirically,  "  You're  one 
of  those  cultivated  creatures." 

"  Yes,  I  am,"  said  Daisy,  "  but  I  can  keep 
house  too.  I  will  clear  off  the  table,  so  you  can 
move  it  back  and  we  can  have  room  for  our  dance. 
Oh!  It's  so  hot  and  stuffy  here!  Won't  one 
of  you  open  a  window?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  and  his  son  both  started  to  do  her 
bidding,  and  by  their  combined  efforts,  the  lower 
sash  was  pushed  to  its  highest  point  and  held 
in  place  by  the  stick  which  lay  upon  the  window 
seat.  As  they  turned  back,  to  their  surprise, 
Daisy  had  gathered  up  the  four  corners  of  the 
table-cloth,  mixing  the  dishes  and  food  which 
remained  into  one  conglomorate  mass,  and  be- 
fore they  could  interfere,  she  had  thrown  the 
whole  through  the  open  window.  That  it  reached 
the  ground  without  impediment  was  plainly  in- 
dicated by  the  loud  crash  which  followed 


THE  TOYMAKERS  157 


CHAPTER  XIX 

A  DEBATE  ON  MATRIMONY 

MR.  STUBBS  had  it  in  his  mind  to  give  Daisy 
a  good  talking  to,  but  his  thoughts  tfere  inter- 
rupted by  her  loud  exclamation :  "  Oh !  It's  so 
cold  here !  I'm  almost  frozen  to  death !  Won't 
you  close  the  window?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  and  Johnnie  looked  at  the  window, 
but  did  not  offer  to  do  her  bidding. 

"  Very  well,"  said  she;  "  I  will  do  it  myself," 
and  before  they  could  interfere,  she  had  pulled 
out  the  stick  and  allowed  the  window  to  fall  of 
its  own  weight,  which  resulted  in  the  breaking 
of  the  majority  of  the  glass  panes  therein.  There 
was  a  look  of  disgust  upon  Mr.  Stubbs's  face  as 
she  turned  towards  him. 

"  What  are  you  thinking  about,  Mr. ?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  again  scratched  the  vacant  expanse 
that  lay  between  his  ears :  "  I  was  trying  to  re- 


158  THE  TOYMAKERS 

member  to  remember  how   much   those   dishei 
cost." 

"Did  they  cost  much?"  asked  Daisy  inno- 
cently. 

"  Don't  you  clear  up  that  way?    Are  you  angry 
with  me?  " 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs,  "  the  dishes  cost 
a  mere  trifle.  Your  way  is  a  very  quick  one.  I 
do  it  that  way  once  in  a  while.  I  am  sorry  about 
the  window  because  it  lets  the  cold  air  in,  and  I 
cannot  get  it  repaired  before  day  after  to-mor- 
row." His  inward  thought  was :  "  I  would  like  to 
smash  her." 

Daisy  smiled  blandly :  "  I'm  so  young !  I  was 
afraid  I  had  done  something  wrong."  She 
jumped  up  and  sat  on  one  end  of  the  table. 
"  Come,  sit  down,  with  me,  both  of  you,  and  we'll 
have  a  nice  talk  and  then  we'll  have  some  fun." 

Mr.  Stubbs  took  a  seat  at  her  right  and 
Johnnie  at  her  left. 

"  Now,  I  would  like  to  know  who  you  are." 
She  pointed  her  finger  at  Johnnie :  "  What  is 
he?  Who  am  I?  How  did  I  come  here?  When 
did  I  come,  and  how  long  am  I  going  to  stay?" 


THE  TOYMAKERS  159 

Mr.  Stubbs  hesitated :  "  Why,  you  are  my — 
well — of  course — why,  I  made  you." 

"Exactly  so,  but  who  are  you?" 

Mr.  Stubbs  reflected :  "  Why,  I  am  your  father 
— or  your  adopted  father;  perhaps  that  is  nearer 
the  truth." 

"  Where  is  my  adopted  mother?  " 

"  When  you  are  a  little  older,  my  dear,  I  will 
let  you  read  the  family  record.  I  am  having  it 
revised." 

Again  Daisy  pointed  her  finger  at  Jonnnie: 
"  What's  that?  " 

Young  Mr.  Stubbs,  with  his  finger  in  his 
mouth,  replied:  "  I'm  Johnnie." 

His  father  added :    "  My  only  son  and  heir." 

"  When  you  adopted  him,  why  didn't  you  pick 
out  a  pretty  one  like  me?  " 

Johnnie  turned  away :  "  Oh,  she  makes  me 
tired." 

Daisy  expostulated :  "  I  don't  want  him  for 
a  brother." 

Mr.  Stubbs  smiled  broadly :  "  WTell,  my  dear, 
you  need  not  have  him  for  a  brother.  Don't  you 
think  he  would  make  a  better  husband?  " 


i6o  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Daisy  shook  head  vehemently :  "  Oh,  no,  no, 
no.  I  wouldn't  marry  him.  As  a  choice  of  two 
evils,  I  will  take  him  for  a  brother;  or,  rather, 
a  half-brother.  But  how  was  it  that  I  was  born 
all  grown-up?" 

Mr.  Stubbs  meditated :  "  The  Devil  has  gone, 
so  I  might  as  well  take  all  the  credit.  Well, 
my  dear,  you  are  the  result  of  a  new  process  of 
my  own  invention,  by  which  daughters,  hus- 
bands, etc.,  can  be  made  to  order." 

"  Do  you  take  the  old  ones  in  exchange?  " 

"  I  had  not  thought  of  that.  I  might  be  able 
to  work  them  over  by  means  of  my  electric  reno- 
vator. That's  what  brought  you  to  life." 

"Funny!    I  didn't  feel  it." 

Johnnie  remembered  something :  "  I  did, 
Dad;  didn't  I?" 

Mr.  Stubbs  assented :  "It  has  been  through 
the  family,  my  son." 

"  What  is  your  family?  What  is  your  name, 
anyway?  " 

"  My  name  is  John  Bull  Stubbs,  Senior.  I 
have  to  call  myself  Senior,  because  my  son,  here, 
bears  the  same  name — John  Bull  Stubbs, 
Junior." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  161 

"  What's  my  name?  " 

"  Oh !  I  forgot,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs;  "  I  have  not 
named  you.  Well,  you  look  very  much  like  a 
young  lady  who  lives  in  this  village,  so  I  think 
I  shall  name  you  after  her.  Her  name  is  Daisy." 

"  Then  I'm  a  Daisy,  am  I,  Mr.  Stubbs?  " 

This  was  too  much  for  Johnnie,  who  mut- 
tered :  "  Oh,  you're  a  peach." 

"  Stubbs  is  a  very  pretty  name ;  but  where  did 
you  get  the  other  name — Bull?" 

Johnnie,  thinking  she  addressed  him,  was 
ready  with  an  answer :  "  I  was  named  after  my 
grandfather,  who  started  the  first  toy-shop  here." 

"  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs ;  "  he  came  from  Ire- 
land." 

"  Oh,  I  see,"  said  Daisy ;  "  he  was  an  Irish 
Bull.  But  what's  this  place  called?  " 

"Middleton,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs.  "It  was 
originally  named  Middletown,  because  it  is  half 
way  between  Dunmoor  and  Arkwright,  wrhere 
the  big  cotton  mill  is;  but  now  it's  known  as 
Middleton-on-Quick." 

"  What's  Quick?  "  she  asked. 

Johnnie  felt  that  he  had  been  left  out  of  the 


102  THE  TOYMAKERS 

conversation  long  enough :  "  Oh !  Quick's  the 
river  that  turns  the  wheel  that  makes  the  toys 
that  we  sell  to  pay  the  bills  of  Dad  and  me,  who 
live  in  the  house  that  Grandfather  Jack  built." 

DaJsy  ignored  him :  '*  Are  there  any  nice 
young  gentlemen  in  this  place?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  answered  her :  "  Johnnie  is  the 
best  match  in  the  town — good-looking — " 

At  the  compliment  Johnnie  grinned. 

«_rich— » 

Daisy  looked  astonished :  "  Why,  I  thought  he 
was  in  love  with  that  other  young  lady  who 
waited  on  the  table." 

"  Sally !  Sally,  the  servant !  Oh,  no !  Noth- 
ing serious  there.  She's  a  nobody." 

Daisy  clapped  her  hands :  "  Why,  that  would 
make  a  splendid  match — a  nobody  like  Sally  and 
a  somebody  like  Johnnie.  You  know,  two  no- 
bodies or  two  somebodys  never  get  along  well  to- 
gether. Do  you  know  that  I  like  to  ask  ques- 
tions? " 

Johnnie  shook  his  head  "  Nobody  would  ever 
uotice  it." 

Daisy  turned  to  Mr.  Stubbs:     "Well  I  do. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  163 

You  said  you  made  me;  how  did  you  do  it?  I 
am  full  of  curiosity." 

"  Angels  always  are,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs  with  a 
smile. 

"  Well,  I  ain't." 

Johnnie  saw  a  chance  for  a  retort :  "  You  take 
too  much  for  granted.  He  didn't  say  you  was  an 
angel." 

Daisy  turned  on  him  angrily :    "  Well,  I  am." 

Mr.  Stubbs  saw  that  trouble  was  brewing: 
"  Yes,  my  dear,  you  are.  Now,  you  stop  plaguing 
her,  John  Junior." 

"  I  ain't  plaguing  her,  Dad.  She's  too  sensi- 
tive." 

"  Now,  Mr.  Stubbs,  tell  me  how  you  made  me." 

"  Well,  my  dear,  I  just  made  you  out  of  half 
kid  and  half  calf." 

"  Do  you  mean  that  Fm  half  calf?  " 

Johnnie  thought  that  the  joke  was  on  Daisy 
and  he  grinned.  She  pointed  her  finger  at  him : 
"  You  didn't  use  any  kid  when  you  made  him, 
did  you?  Go  on,  Daddy." 

Mr.  Stubbs's  smile  was  as  broad  as  a  punch 
bowl :  "  I  cut  you  out  by  the  best  anatomical 


164  THE  TOYMAKERS 

patterns;  then  stitched  you  up  with  a  sewing 
machine." 

Daisy  looked  astonished.  "  A  sewing  ma- 
chine? How?  " 

"  No,  a  Singer — the  only  kind  that's  good  for 
such  heavy  work.  Your  face  troubled  me  the 
most." 

Johnnie  «miled  and  muttered :  "  So  much 
cheek." 

Mr.  Stubbs  continued  his  description :  "  I 
made  it  of  wax — painted  and  powdered  it — 
bought  you  some  nice  false  hair,  and  false  teeth 
in  Lunnon,  where  I  had  that  dress  made." 

"  But  how  did  you  know  that  you  could  make 
me  live,  Daddy?" 

"  I  will  illustrate."  Mr.  Stubbs  took  down 
a  jumping- jack  from  a  shelf  and  pulled  the 
string:  "You  see  this  simple  toy?" 

"  Oh,  I  see ! "  cried  Daisy.  "  You  made 
Johnnie  first  on  that  plan." 

Mr.  Stubbs  pulled  the  string  several  times: 
"  Now,  you  see,  he  goes  up ;  now,  you  see,  he 
comes  down.  That's  the  dynamic  principle  upon 
which  you  were  constructed." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  165 

Johnnie  looked  up  knowingly :  "  I  can  grasp 
that." 

"  Well,  I  can't,"  said  Daisy ;  "  it's  a  mystery  to 
me." 

Mr.  Stubbs  became  philosophical :  "  Life  us- 
ually is;  and  an  exertion  too." 

"  Don't  you  make  anything,  Mr.  Stubbs,  but 
girls  and  boys?  " 

"  Oh,  yes.  I'm  the  leading  manufacturer  of 
mechanical  toys  in  the  United  Kingdom.  Here's 
my  toy  watch."  He  took  one  from  the  shelf. 
"  Always  keeps  good  time — never  loses  a  minute ; 
never  gains  one." 

Daisy  took  the  watch  and  looked  at  it.  It  indi- 
cated a  quarter  past  three.  "  This  doesn't  tell 
time." 

"  Oh,  yes  it  does,  my  dear.  You  set  it  right 
and  it  stays  right.  That's  more  than  expensive 
watches  will  do." 

Johnnie  had  become  interested :  "  Then  there's 
the  goat  and  the  dog.  We  make  two  pastures 
and  put  the  goat  and  the  dog  in  the  right-hand 
one;  then  we  turn  the  crank  and  the  goat  is  left 
alone." 


i66  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  What  becomes  of  the  dog?  "  asked  Daisy. 

Johnnie  grinned :  "  He's  in  the  other  pas- 
ture." 

Mr.  Stubbs  became  descriptive :  "  Then  there 
is  Jonah  and  the  whale.  I  turn  the  crank  and 
Jonah  swallows  the  whale." 

Daisy  betrayed  too  much  knowledge :  "  You 
have  it  wrong,  Mr.  Stubbs;  the  whale  swallows 
Jonah." 

"  Oh,  no,  my  dear.  I  have  studied  natural 
history  and  you  have  never  studied  anything. 
Whales  are  growing  smaller  every  year,  but 
Jonahs  are  getting  bigger." 

Johnnie  was  waiting  for  his  chance :  "  Oh ! 
You  ought  to  see  the  donkey  and  the  man,  and 
see  the  donkey's  heels  go  up  and  wait  for  him  to 
come  down." 

Daisy  looked  mystified :  "  What  does  the  man 
do?" 

Johnnie  thought:  "She's  stupid."  Then  he 
said :  "  Why,  he's  the  one  you're  waiting  for 
to  come  down." 

Mr.  Stubbs  had  not  described  all  of  his  inven- 
tions :  "  My  greatest — ah — construction — ex- 
cepting you,  of  course — is  my  medicated  toy." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  167 

"What's  that?"  asked  Daisy.     "Candy?" 

"  Oh,  no.  Well,  of  course,  you  do  not  know, 
but  most  children  do  not  like  medicines,  but  al- 
most any  child  will  put  a  toy  in  its  mouth. 
Don't  you  understand?" 

"  Yes— Yes." 

"  WTell,  I  make  a  very  large  brown  cow,  and  I 
medicate  it  by  painting  it  with  castor  oil  and 
rhubarb." 

Daisy  had  become  tired  of  the  enumeration  of 
the  contents  of  Noah's  Ark :  "  I'm  very  much 
obliged  to  you,  Mr.  Stubbs.  Now,  Johnnie,  what 
can  you  do  to  amuse  me?  " 

"  Oh,  I  can't  tell  you  much." 

"  Well,  I  didn't  suppose  you  could ;  but  as  this 
is  my  birthday,  you  might  be  obliging." 

Mr.  Stubbs  felt  it  his  duty  to  encourage  his 
offspring :  "  Now,  Johnnie,  try  to  remember  to 
remember  something." 

"  Well,  say,"  began  Johnnie,  "  did  you  ever 
hear  about  Little  Jack  Homer?  " 

Daisy  shook  her  head :  "  No,  I  never  did. 
Who  was  he?  " 

"  Well,  I've  got  tired  of  sitting  on  this  table. 


168  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Let's  get  some  chairs  and  come  up  front  of  the 
fireplace,  I'll  put  on  a  big  log;  then  we'll  be 
comfortable,  and  I  will  tell  you  the  most  wonder- 
ful gtory  that  you  ever  heard  in  all  your  life." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  169 


CHAPTER  XX 

"  LITTLE  JACK  HORNER  " 

JOHNNIE'S  suggestion  was  followed  at 
Mr.  Stubbs  sat  in  his  high-backed  arm-chair 
while  Johnnie  took  a  low  stool.  For  Daisy,  a 
rocking-chair,  to  which  Johnnie,  with  a  touch  of 
old-time  chivalry,  added  a  foot-stool.  Daisy 
folded  here  hands  and  looked  at  Johnnie,  whose 
saucer-like  eyes  and  expansive  mouth  indent'fied 
him  with  the  mythical  character  whose  story  Ui 
was  to  tell. 

"  Are  you  ready?  "  asked  Johnnie. 

Mr.  Stubbs  did  not  respond,  but  Daisy  clap- 
ped her  hands  and  replied :  "  I  shall  be  delighted 
to  hear  about  this  wonderful  young  man." 

Johnnie  began  in  a  sing-song  tone: 

Little  Jack  Homer, 
Sat  in  a  corner, 
Eating  a  baker's  pie  ; 
In  his  thumb  he  did  dig, 
And  he  pulled  out  a  big — 


170  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Then  he  stopped  and  grinned. 

Daisy  tapped  her  foot  impatiently :  "  Well, 
what  did  he  pull  out?  " 

Johnnie  smiled  to  full  capacity :  "  You've  got 
to  ask  me  before  I'll  tell." 

"  I  did  ask  you,  and  I  won't  ask  again." 

"  The  book  I  got  it  out  of  says  a  raisin  and  a 
currant,  but  this  is  the  way  I  tell  it — "• 

A  big  bumble  bee  and  a  fly. 

Daisy  laughed,  not  so  much  at  the  words  as  at 
the  comical  manner  in  which  they  were  said. 

"  Any  more?  " 

"  Yards  of  it,"  said  Johnnie. 

Little  Jack  Horner, 
Sat  in  a  corner, 
Holding  a  great  big  bun  ; 
He  broke  it  in  two, 
Then  did  loudly  boo-hoo — 

Daisy  was  interested:  "What  was  the 
matter?  What  made  him  cry?  " 

Johnnie  wished  the  regulation  query: 
"  You've  got  to  ask  me." 

Mr.  Stubbs  became  indignant :  "  She  did  ask 
you.  You  tell  her  quick  or  I'll  thrash  you." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  171 

Johnnie  complied. 

Because  the  inside  wasn't  done. 

Daisy  nodded :    "  Go  on." 

Little  Jack  Homer, 

Ate  fruit  in  a  corner, 

At  sight  of  his  mother  he  hid  it ; 

His  childish  young  frolic, 

Did  end  in  a  colic — 

As  Johnnie  stopped  he  looked  up  and  met  his 
father's  stern  gaze;  he  quickly  supplied  the  mis- 
sing line: 

It  was  the  green  apples  that  did  it. 

Johnnie  did  not  wait  for  an  invitation  to  con- 
tinue: 

Little  Jack  Horner, 

Was  sick  in  a  corner, 

The  Doctor  seemed  quite  at  a  loss ; 

But  molasses  did  give, 

And  ginger  root  too, 

Put  hot  bricks  to  his  feet, 

He  was  warmed  through  and  through — 

Another  provoking  pauise.  Mr.  Stubbs 
scowled,  and  Johnnie  hastened  to  add :  "  He  got 
better." 

Daisy,  a  trifle  curious  to  know  why,  asked: 
"What  cured  him?" 


172  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Johnnie  was  not  a  born  humorist,  but  he 
laughed  as  he  said : 

The  apples  it  made  into  sauce. 

"  That  must  be  the  end  of  it,"  said  Daisy.  "  I 
hope  so." 

"  Oh,  no,  there  are  forty-seven  more  verses, 
but  if  you're  tired,  I'll  give  you  the  last  one." 

Little  Jack  Homer, 
Did  lay  in  a  corner, 
A  sleeping  after  his  pain. 
They  left  him  there, 
In  the  angels'  care — 

Quietness  reigned.  Mr.  Stubbs  moved  very 
audibly.  Daisy  yawned.  Johnnie  grew  restless. 

"  Don't  you  want  the  end  of  it?  " 

"  Oh,  I  don't  care." 

"  Well,  I'll  finish  it  up  anyway." 

Until  he  got  hungry  again. 

Daisy  gave  emphasis  to  the  finale.  She  jumped 
up,  and,  as  she  did  so,  kicked  the  footstool  into 
the  fireplace,  where  it  straddled  the  big  log  which 
was  burning  fiercely.  Johnnie  sprang  forward  to 
save  it  from  the  flames;  at  the  instant  Mr.  Stubbs 
made  a  similar  motion,  and  the  heads  of  the 


THE  TOYMAKERS  173 

would-be  rescuers  came  together  with  a  resound- 
ing crack.  They  fell  to  the  floor.  Daisy  grew 
pale,  for  she  feared  they  were  seriously  injured. 
When  they  arose,  shaking  themselves  like  two 
dogs,  they  found  the  footstool  wrapped  in  flames. 
Daisy  had  resumed  her  seat  on  the  table,  and 
beckoned  them  to  come  and  sit  beside  her. 


174  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XXI 

AN  IMPROMPTU  CONCERT 

DAISY  kicked  her  heels  against  the  table  legs, 
keeping  time  with  them. 

"  Say,  Johnnie,  can  you  sing?  " 

He  hummed,  then  he  whistled:  "  That's  all  I 
can  do." 

"  Can't  you  sing,  Mr.  Stubbs?  " 

"No,  but  Tom  can." 

"Who's  Tom?" 

"  He's  my  lazy,  good-for-nothing  nephew. 
He'd  much  rather  eat,  and  sing,  and  dance  than 
work." 

"  He's  just  the  one  we  need,  Mr.  Stubbs.  Go 
and  call  him." 

"  He's  sound  asleep.  He  gorges  himself  and 
then  has  to  sleep  it  off,  just  like  a  snake." 

Daisy  mused :    "  Tom  must  have  got  that  Devil 


THE  TOYMAKERS  175 

dress  off  by  this  time."  She  shook  her  fist  at 
Mr.  Stubbs :  "  No  matter !  Go  wake  him  up, 
and  move  lively." 

Mr.  Stubbs  felt  that  it  was  useless  to  argue 
with  his  creation.  She  was  a  woman,  and,  there- 
fore, unreasonable  and  domineering. 

"  Come,  Johnnie,  it  will  take  us  both.  He 
sleeps  deep." 

Tom's  room  was  beyond  the  workshop.  Sally, 
who  had  been,  for  a  while,  watching  the  proceed- 
ings within  through  a  window,  came  in  as  soon 
as  the  door  closed  after  Mr.  Stubbs  and  his  son. 

"  Hello,  Daisy,  where  have  they  gone?  " 

"  I've  sent  them  to  wake  Tom  up,"  and  she 
laughed  merrily. 

"  Oh,  he's  not  been  asleep,  but  he'll  keep  them 
waiting  and  make  them  think  he  has.  He  sent 
you  this  pistol." 

Daisy  took  it,  but  handled  it  so  carelessly  that 
Sally  retreated  in  alarm :  "  Look  out,  Daisy, 
or  it'll  go  off." 

"  No,  it  won't ;  I'll  hold  on  to  it." 

"  But  you  don't  understand,"  cried  Sally. 
"  It's  loaded." 


176  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  I  didn't  know  it  was  loaded."  Daisy  re- 
garded it  attentively:  "Will  it  kick?  Is  it 
sure  death?  " 

"  I  don't  think  so,"  said  Sally.  "  It  isn't  a  toy 
pistol." 

Daisy  placed  the  pistol  on  a  shelf  in  a  cabinet 
full  of  kitchen  utensils  and  some  fine  old  China. 

"  Where  are  you  going,  Sally?  " 

"  Why,  to  the  masquerade,  of  course.  How  do 
I  look?" 

As  Sally  spoke  she  threw  off  a  long  cloak. 
She  was  dressed  in  the  Tyrolean  costume  that 
Daisy  had  wished  to  wear. 

"  You  look  lovely.  If  Tom  could  see  you,  he'd 
change  his  mind  about  that  dress." 

"  Aren't  you  and  Tom  coming?  " 

"  How  can  I  tell?  If  I  can  get  those  two  fools 
tired  and  sleepy,  or  tipsy,  I'll  get  away.  Where 
are  my  clothes?  Where  will  they  put  me  to 
sleep,  if  I  can't  get  away?  " 

Sally  pointed  to  a  door :  "  That's  the  spare 
room.  The  dummy's  in  there,  and  your  clothes 
too.  You  can  get  out  of  the  window,  and  Tom 
will  meet  you,  and  we'll  all  go  to  the  grand  ball. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  177 

Won't  it  be  jolly?"  Sally  put  on  her  cloak. 
•'  If  you  don't  get  away  pretty  soon,  I  shall  come 
back  to  see  what  the  matter  is." 

She  made  her  escape  just  in  time,  for  she  had 
no  sooner  closed  the  door  than  Mr.  Stubbs  and 
Johnnie  returned,  accompanied  by  Tom,  who 
was  in  his  working  clothes. 

Mr.  Stubbs  made  the  introduction :  "  Tom, 
this  young  lady  is  a  friend  of  the  family  and 
wants  to  hear  you  sing.  Give  us  something  solid 
and  substantial,  and  you  shall  have  a  good  old- 
fashioned  Christmas  breakfast." 

"  That's  a  good  inducement,  Uncle  Stubbs,  but 
don't  forget  that  I've  got  to  sing  on  a  very  empty 
stomach." 

Daisy  pulled  Mr.  Stubbs's  coat-sleeve :  "  Will 
you  be  kind  enough  to  introduce  me  to  that  young 
man?" 

"Oh,  yes;  I  forgot.  Tom,  this  is — this  is — 
Miss — Miss — " 

"  Mistake,  I  surmise,  Dad,"  said  Johnnie. 

"  No,  it  isn't  either.  Your  father  called  me 
Daisy  and  my  other  name  is  Fortune — Miss  For- 
tune." 


178  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  I  have  known  one  kind  of  misfortune  so 
long,"  said  Tom,  that  this  Miss  Fortune  seems 
like  an  old  acquaintance." 

Mr.  Stubbs  snarled :  "  Well,  don't  take  this 
occasion  to  bring  up  family  troubles." 

"  Well,  Uncle  Stubbs,  as  I've  taken  quite  a 
fancy  to  the  young  lady,  I'll  do  all  I  can  to  make 
her  visit  a  pleasant  one." 

"  Thank  you,  Mr.  Tom,"  said  Daisy  smilingly. 

Tom  thought  a  little  dignity  would  avert  sus- 
picion :  "  Madam,  my  name  is  Bright." 

"  Nobody  ever  thinks  of  calling  you  so,"  com- 
mented Mr.  Stubbs." 

Johnnie  grinned :  "  I  always  call  him  Tommy ; 
same  as  I  do  the  cat." 

Tom  gave  Johnnie  a  vicious  kick  in  the  shin, 
but  the  latter  was  ashamed  to  tell  his  father  be- 
fore Daisy  and  bore  his  punishment  in  silence. 

Mr.  Stubbs  remembered  to  remember:  "So 
you've  taken  a  fancy  to  her,  have  you?  " 

Tom  nodded. 

"  Well,  if  you  want  that  breakfast,  you'll  sing 
your  little  song  and  then  go  back  to  bed  again, 
and  see  how  that  will  suit  your  fancy." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  179 

Tom  had  a  natural  tenor  voice  which  had  never 
been  spoiled  by  injudicious  forcing,  and  he  sang 
with  great  feeling  a  song  which  had  always  made 
him  welcome  at  Daisy's  home,  for  Grandpa 
Larkin  was  an  old  sailor. 

THE  BEACON  LIGHT 

I 

On  the  air  there  is  borne  a  cry  of  woe 
'Bove  the  roar  and  the  rush  of  wind  and  snow ; 
Help  !  Oh,  help  !  are  the  words  that  rise  on  high, 
'Bove  the  rush  and  the  roar  and  the  wind's  wild  cry. 
And  the  good  ship  strikes  on  the  jagged  rocks, 
No  human  help  can  aid  her  ! 

II 

Like  a  star  in  the  sky  the  beacon  shines 

And  its  rays  reach  afar  like  helping  lines  ; 

Though  the  light,  to  the  heart,  Hope's  gleam  may  give, 

They  are  doomed,  for  no  boat  can  hope  to  live. 

And  the  good  ship  beats  on  the  jagged  rocks, 

No  human  help  can  aid  her  ! 

in 

Say  not  so  !    With  a  cheer  the  life  line  flies 
To  the  ship,  and  beyond,  across  her  lies  ; 
Rides  the  car  back  and  forth  with  souls  to  save, 
Till  they  all  have  escaped  a  wat'ry  grave. 
But  the  good  ship  breaks  on  the  jagged  rocks, 
No  human  help  can  aid  her! 


i8o  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  That  was  splendid,"  cried  Daisy.  "  That's 
what  I  call  high-toned  music.  I  am  much 
obliged,  Mr.  Bright" 

"So  am  I,  Mr.  Bright,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs. 
"And  now,  Mr.  Bright,  just  go  to  bed,  Mr. 
Bright ;  or  you  won't  be  up  in  time  for  that  break- 
fast, Mr.  Bright." 

"  Don't  worry,  Mr.  Stubbs.  I'd  sit  up  all 
night,  Mr.  Stubbs,  rather  than  lose  that  break- 
fast, Mr.  Stubbs,"  cried  Tom,  as  he  disappeared 
from  the  room  to  escape  Mr.  Stubbs's  heavy 
oaken  cane  which  was  hurled  after  him. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  181 


CHAPTER   XXII 

THE  44TH  HUSSAES 

DAISY  was  evidently  determined  that  the  even- 
ing's amusement  should  not  be  summarily  con- 
cluded. Turning  to  Johnnie,  she  asked :  "  Can 
you  dance? " 

Johnnie  affected  Captain  Sabreton's  drawl 
and  replied :  "  Naw,  I  cawn't  dawnce." 

"  Yes,  you  can  dance,  too,"  said  his  father. 

Johnnie  dropped  his  drawl :  "  No,  I  can't ; 
I've  forgotten  how." 

"  Well,  you  must  remember  to  remember." 

Johnnie  was  inclined  to  be  stubborn :  "  No,  I 
won't." 

His  father  grasped  him  by  the  collar :  "  Young 
man,  now  you  dance,  or  I'll  thrash  you  and  make 
you  dance." 

Daisy  thought  she  could  enliven  the  proceed- 


182  THE  TOYMAKERS 

ings,  so  she  took  the  pistol  from  the  dresser  and 
discharged  it.  In  his  efforts  to  escape  from  ap- 
parently impending  danger,  Mr.  Stubbs  ran 
against  Johnnie,  and  they  both  fell  to  the  floor. 
Neither  attempted  to  rise,  but  kept  a  sitting  posi- 
tion. 

"  Mr.  Stubbs,  can  you  play  on  any  kind  of  an 
instrument?"  asked  Daisy. 
.    "  I>  have  a  fiddle." 

"  Well,  you  can  play  the  fiddle  while  Johnnie 
dances." 

"  What !  "  cried  Johnnie.  "  Dad  going  to  play 
the  fiddle !  Well,  I  wish  I  was  dead." 

"  Johnnie,  what  you  want  is  a  bracer,"  said 
Daisy.  u  There's  some  wine  left  in  the  bottle  in 
the  other  room ;  go  and  get  it  and  some  glasses. 

When  Johnnie  came  back,  Daisy  filled  the 
glasses  and  he  and  Mr.  Stubbs  drank. 

"  You're  not  a  temperance  man,  Mr.  Stubbs," 
Daisy  remarked. 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  am ;  but  I  have  no  prejudice 
against  good  liquor  of  any  kind." 

"Oh,  Dad,  Dad,"  said  Johnnie;  "  I  feel  just 
like  a  balloon.  I'm  going  up." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  183 

Mr.  Stubbs  was  happy :  "  Well,  go  up,  if  you 
want  to.  I'll  go  up  and  come  back  with  you." 

Johnnie  grasped  his  father's  hand :  "  Let's 
both  go  up  together,  Dad." 

Daisy  thought :  "  Oh,  if  they  only  would  go 
up  and  never  come  back ! " 

Mr.  Stubbs  had  been  a  devotee  of  Terpsichore 
in  his  younger  days.  Johnnie,  though  deficient 
in  book  knowledge,  had  his  perceptive  faculties 
well  developed  and  was  a  good  mimic;  so  when 
his  father  took  some  dancing  steps,  which  he  re- 
membered to  remember,  Johnnie  imitated  him. 

The  result  was  so  grotesquely  funny  that  peals 
of  laughter  came  from  Daisy,  who  was  literally 
forced  to  hold  her  sides.  She  encouraged  them 
by  clapping  her  hands  and  crying :  "  Bravo ! 
Bravo ! ! "  until  they  literally  fell  exhausted. 
Mr.  Stubbs  sat  down  in  his  arm-chair  by  the  fire, 
while  Johnnie  reclined  upon  the  table. 

Daisy  felt  that  the  time  had  now7  arrived  for 
an  end  to  the  evening's  festivities.  "  While 
they  are  sleeping,"  she  said  to  herself,  "  I  will  do 
some  thinking.  I'll  show  them  that  I  can  be  a 
match  for  both  of  them.  I  have  a  good  mind  to 


184  THE  TOYMAKERS 

go  to  the  workshop  and  smash  all  the  dolls  and 
toys  that  are  there.  When  they  see  what  I  have 
done,  they  Trill  say :  '  We've  had  enough  of  you,' 
but  I  don't  know  how  *o  begin.  I  wish  I  had  a 
blunderbuss.  I'd  scare  Johnnie  to  death  and 
drive  his  father  crazy.  Oh!  What  shall  I  do? 
Well,  I  think  my  woman's  wit  will  help  me  out. 
I'll  find  some  way.  When  I  get  through  with 
them,  they'll  be  glad  enough  to  let  me  go.  If 
Tom  were  here,  he  could  help  me."  She  called 
loudly :  "  Tom !  Tom ! !  Tom ! ! !  Oh,  he  doesn't 
hear  me."  She  tiptoed  across  the  room  and 
looked  at  Mr.  Stubbs  and  then  at  Johnnie.  "  I 
hope  they  are  sound  asleep.  Sally  said  my 
clothes  were  in  that  room.  I  will  go  in  and  put 
them  on."  She  started  towards  the  door  when 
Mr.  Stubbs  roused  up. 

"WTiat's  that?     What's  that?" 

He  went  to  the  table  and  pulled  Johnnie's  ear 
vigorously.  "  Wake  up !  Wake  up !  She's  look- 
ing for  us." 

"  Oh,  it's  no  use,"  thought  Daisy.  "  I've  got 
to  make  a  business  of  it  and  frighten  them  to 
death.  I  will  make  them  both  remember  to  re- 


THE  TOYMAKERS  185 

member  this  night."  She  turned  smilingly  to- 
wards them :  "  I  hope  you  both  had  a  nice  nap. 
Now  we'll  have  some  fun." 

"  It's  about  time  for  us  to  have  a  show,"  said 
Mr.  Stubbs.  "  You've  had  all  the  fun  so  far." 

"  Well,  you  shall  have  a  show,"  cried  Daisy. 
"  We'll  play  soldiers.  I'll  be  captain." 

Johnnie  elevated  his  nose  and  said  satirically: 
"  Oh,  of  course,  you'll  be  captain.  It  wouldn't 
be  you  if  you  wasn't  the  boss." 

Daisy  paid  no  attention  to  his  remarks,  but 
passed  a  toy  gun  to  each  and  placed  paper  hats 
upon  their  heads. 

Mr.  Stubbs  dropped  his  gun  and  threw  his  hat 
upon  the  floor.  "  No,  I'm  too  old ;  besides,  I'm 
too  short  and  I'm  light  weight;  I  have  bunions; 
I  can't  march;  my  teeth  are  all  gone,  and  I'm 
near-sighted;  I'm  insane,  too,  and  have  an  only 
child  depending  upon  me  for  support.  I'm  ex- 
empt." 

"  Say,  Captain,"  said  Johnnie ;  "  I  have  the 
same  troubles  Dad  has." 

"  It's  no  use  trying  to  get  out  of  it,  gentlemen. 
I  love  the  military  and  you  must  parade." 


i86  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  Mr.  Stubbs  remarked :  "  You  haven't  been 
born  long  enough  to  know  what  you  do  love." 

Daisy  had  provided  herself  with  a  bass  drum- 
stick. She  struck  Mr.  Stubbs  in  the  chest  with 
it,  and  involuntarily  he  doubled  up.  Then  she 
struck  him  upon  the  back,  the  effect  of  which 
was  to  straighten  him  out.  She  then  replaced 
the  cap  upon  his  head  and  handed  him  the  toy 
gun. 

Mr.  Stubbs  looked  bewildered  and  his  ap- 
pearance caused  Johnnie  to  laugh.  A  quick  ap- 
plication of  the  drumstick,  however,  induced  him 
to  take  a  position  by  the  side  of  his  father,  and 
£hey  both  looked  like  raw  recruits. 

"  Now  then,  attention ! " 

"  Dad,  we  look  like  veterans,  don't  we?  " 

"  More  like  two  fools." 

Daisy  repeated  the  command :  "  Attention ! 
Bight  Dress ! " 

Mr.  Stubbs  and  Johnnie  looked  at  each  other; 
then  at  their  clothes. 

"  Say,  Captain,  we  have  on  the  right  dress, 
haven't  we?" 

"  Oh,  don't  stand  that  way,"  she  cried,  and 


THE  TOYMAKERS  187 

she  imitated  their  awkward  pose.  "  Stand  up 
straight  and  toe  a  line.  Put  your  heels  together. 
What  thick  heads  you  have !  Now,  carry  arms !  " 

The  two  soldiers  looked  at  each  other  inquir- 
ingly. Each  was  willing  to  follow  the  other's 
lead.  Finally,  Mr.  Stubbs  took  the  gun  in  his 
arms  as  though  he  were  carrying  a  baby,  and 
Johnnie  quickly  imitated  his  action. 

"  Shoulder  arms !  "  cried  Daisy. 

This  order  was  as  incomprehensible  to  the  re- 
cruits as  the  others  had  been.  Finally  they  faced 
each  other  and  placed  the  guns  on  their  shoul- 
ders. 

"  Order  arms !  "  was  the  next  command. 

They  looked  at  Daisy  in  blank  astonishment. 
Finally  Mr.  Stubbs  asked:  "  How  many?" 

"  Present  arms !  " 

They  advanced,  holding  out  the  guns  to  Daisy, 
who  refused  them.  Finally  they  exchanged 
weapons. 

"  Ground  arms !  " 

This  order  was  followed  with  military  preci- 
sion, for  the  guns  were  dropped  upon  the  floor. 

"  Say,  Captain,  how  do  you  like  our  drilling?  " 
asked  Johnnie. 


i88  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  It  was  just  as  bad  as  it  could  be." 

Mr.  Stubbs  shook  his  head :  "  It  won't  be  any 
better." 

"  Now,"  said  Daisy,  "  we'll  march." 

"  I  can't  march,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs.  "  I  ought 
to  be  in  the  hospital." 

"  Which  foot  do  we  start  with? "  asked 
Johnnie. 

Mr.  Stubbs  put  out  his  right  foot  and  Johnnie 
his  left. 

"  Forward  march !  " 

The  result  can  be  anticipated. 

"  You  started  with  the  wrong  foot,"  cried 
Johnnie. 

"No,  I  didn't,"  said  his  father;  "I  started 
with  the  right." 

"  You  started  with  the  right? "  asked  Daisy. 
"  Well,  that  left  you  wrong,  and  that  is  not  right. 
You  must  start  off  with  both  feet  at  the  same 
time." 

"  What!  "  cried  Mr.  Stubbs.  "  Start  off  with 
all  my  feet  at  the  same  time?  I'm  no  cater- 
pillar." 

"  I  don't  think  you  will  ever  make  good  foot 


THE  TOYMAKERS  189 

soldiers.  I  think  you  would  do  better  as  cavalry. 
You've  seen  the  44th  Hussars  at  Dunmoor. 
Now,  you  two  will  be  hussars  and  I'll  be  in- 
fantry. We'll  have  a  sham  fight." 

"  No  sham  fight  for  me,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs.  "  If 
I  fight  it  will  be  in  earnest." 

"  Where  are  the  horses?  "  asked  Johnnie. 

"  Didn't  I  see  some  big  rocking-horses  in  the 
workshop?  They'll  do  finely." 

Neither  Mr.  Stubbs  nor  his  son  remarked 
Daisy's  intimate  knowledge  of  the  interior  ar- 
rangement of  the  little  red  mill. 

"  Oh !  Come  on,  Dad !  Let's  bring  in  the  fiery, 
inflamed  steeds." 

When  Mr.  Stubbs  and  Johnnie  returned,  they 
seemed  determined  to  enter  into  the  spirit  of  the 
occasion.  They  put  on  their  soldier  hats  and 
grasped  their  swords,  and  jumped  upon  the 
horses. 

"  Prepare  to  resist  infantry !  "  cried  Daisy. 

Mr.  Stubbs  and  Johnnie  lifted  their  swords, 
charged,  and  rode  their  horses  at  full  speed. 

Daisy  raised  the  pistol,  pointed  it  at  them  and 
cried :  "  Come  on ! " 


190  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  I  say,  Dad,  ain't  she  a  live  one?  I  admire 
her." 

Daisy  discharged  the  pistol.  The  hussars 
leaned  forward  upon  their  horses'  necks  for  pro- 
tection. 

"  Admire  her,  you  fool ! "  cried  Mr.  Stubbs. 
"  She's  a  little  devil.  She's  worse  than  your 
mother  was." 

Daisy  threw  the  bass  drumstick  at  Mr.  Stubbs, 
who  dodged  it,  but  losing  his  balance,  fell  from 
his  horse  to  the  floor. 

"  Yes,  I  am  a  little  Devil,  and  don't  you  for- 
get to  remember  to  remember  it." 

"  Grab  her,  Johnnie !  Grab  her !  cried  Mr. 
Stubbs. 

Daisy  grasped  a  big  book  and  threw  it  at 
Johnnie,  knocking  him  from  his  horse.  Mr. 
Stubbs  rushed  at  Daisy,  who  ran,  and  then  be- 
gan a  wild  chase  about  the  room,  Johnnie  fol- 
lowing his  father.  Around  the  table  they  went ; 
then  behind  the  dresser,  which  stood  out  from 
the  wall.  Daisy  watched  her  chance.  When  it 
happened  that  she  was  behind  the  dresser,  and 
Mr.  Stubbs  and  his  son  were  in  front,  she  pushed 


THE  TOYMAKERS  191 

it  over  upon  them.  It  fell  with  a  crash,  burying 
the  hussars  beneath  an  avalanche  of  pots  and 
pans,  knives,  forks,  and  spoons,  and  dishes. 
Johnnie,  being  the  least  encumbered,  was  soon 
upon  his  feet.  Daisy  ran  from  the  room,  with 
him  in  full  pursuit. 

In  the  kitchen  they  met  Tom  and  Sally  who 
had  been  listening  and  awaiting  the  outcome. 
It  took  Tom  but  a  few  minutes  to  show  Johnnie 
how  egregiously  he  and  his  father  had  been 
fooled. 

"It's  almost  ten  o'clock,"  said  Sally.  "If 
we're  going  to  the  masquerade,  we  must  lose  no 
time." 

Johnnie  regarded  Tom's  costume :  "  Say,  were 
you  the  Devil?" 

"  Why,  of  course." 

"  When  the  old  gent  knows  it  he  will  die  of 
apoplexy,"  Johnnie  remarked.  Then  he  added, 
with  a  sad  lack  of  filial  tenderness :  "  It  will 
serve  him  just  right!  He  had  no  business  to 
make  me  a  wife  when  I  had  a  nice  little  girl  of 
my  own,"  and  he  put  his  arm  around  Sally's 
waist. 


192  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  Come  along,"  cried  Sally,  "or  we  shall  be 
too  late." 

"  I  can't  go,"  said  Johnnie.  "  I  hare  no  cos- 
tume." 

"  What   you   have   on   will   do,"   said   Sally. 

"  You  couldn't  get  anything  funnier  if  you 
tried." 

The  party  made  its  way  quickly  to  Barnabas 
Briggs's  wagon,  which  they  found  waiting  for 
them  under  the  old  oak,  and  in  which  were  seated 
a  dozen  or  more  of  the  Middleton-on-Quick  young 
fellows  and  girls,  who  were  all  going  to  the 
masquerade  at  Dunmoor  Barracks. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  193 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

CHRISTMAS  CAROLS 

THE  fire  had  burned  low ;  only  a  few  embers  in 
the  fireplace  sent  out  a  fitful  glow.  Mr.  Stubbs 
sat  before  it,  his  head  bowed  upon  his  breast. 
Thf  house  was  very  quiet ;  there  were  no  sounds 
of  movement,  speech,  or  laughter.  Mr.  Stubbs 
was  alone  with  his  thoughts,  and  they  were  not 
particularly  pleasant  ones.  The  candle  had 
burned  out,  but  the  clouds  had  parted  and  a 
white  streak  of  moolight  came  through  the  win- 
dow and  lighted  up  the  room.  There  was  a 
sound  of  voices — somebody  singing. 

Mr.  Stubbs  smiled  grimly :  "  Christmas  car- 
ols! Peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  men.  I 
used  to  sing  them  when  I  was  a  boy.  I  can  re- 
member to  remember  even  now  how  the  old 
church  bells  used  to  ring  out  their  merry  chimes. 
I  want  to  be  good,  but  I  can't  be  as  long  as  she 
is  in  there,"  and  he  pointed  to  the  door  of  the 


194  THE  TOYMAKERS 

spare  room.  "  I  wish  tho  Devil  would  come  and 
take  his  own  and  clear  out;  but  he  can't  have 
her  until  he  pays  damages.  I  have  locked  her  in, 
secured  the  window  on  the  outside,  and  hidden 
the  ladder  which  I  must  have  left  standing 
against  the  house  when  I  fixed  the  shingles  last 
week.  I  will  have  a  little  nap  and  see  if  I  can't 
remember  to  forget  all  about  the  Devil  and  the 
Devil's  tricks." 

A  thunder  and  lightning  storm  in  the  midst 
of  winter  is  a  novelty,  but  novelties,  as  a  rule, 
are  short  lived.  They  have  not  that  permanency 
attached  to  things  which  are  of  daily  occurrence. 
The  storm  which  had  led  to  the  carrying  out  of 
those  plans  upon  which  Mr.  Stubbs  had  med- 
itated for  so  long,  passed  away  as  quickly  as  it 
had  come.  A  heavy  wind  moved  the  clouds,  and 
a  full-orbed  moon  soon  lighted  up  each  cottage, 
and  hill,  and  dale,  all  of  which  were  covered  with 
snow.  Over  the  road  sped  Mr.  Barnabas 
Briggs's  six  sturdy  horses,  carrying  their  freight 
of  young  men  and  women,  who  looked  forward 
with  keen  anticipation  to  the  delights  in  store 
for  them. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  195 

Nor  were  they  disappointed.  On  their  arrival 
at  the  Barracks,  they  found  that  they  had  been 
transformed  into  a  bower  of  beauty.  The  Hus- 
sars had  had  their  annual  dinner,  in  which  choice 
wines  had  formed  no  inconsiderable  part.  Their 
faces  were  flushed  with  happiness  from  the  ef- 
fects of  what  may  be  called  the  spiritual  com- 
forts that  were  provided  at  the  close  of  the  meal. 
They  were  in  a  happy  mood,  and  disposed  to  make 
their  guests  also  happy.  The  band  of  the  44th 
Hussars  was  noted  for  miles  around  for  its  num- 
bers and  the  skilled  technique  of  its  playing.  On 
such  occasions  as  this  it  was  transformed  into 
an  orchestra,  particularly  string  and  reed  in- 
struments. 

There  was  a  motley  crowd  upon  the  floor  of 
the  ballroom.  Kings  and  queens,  princes  and 
peasants  elbowed  each  other,  and  the  hum  of  con- 
versation was  constant.  Both  men  and  women 
wore  masks.  There  were  plenty  of  corners  for 
flirtatious  conversations,  which  neither  party 
would  have  acknowledged  if  their  masks  had  been 
removed  and  they  had  stood  face  to  face. 

Johnnie  had  obtained  a  mask  which,  in  his 


196  THE  TOYMAKERS 

case,  was  an  effectual  disguise.  No  one  was  sup- 
posed to  have  come  in  his  ordinary  clothes,  and 
those  who  looked  at  Johnnie  supposed  it  was  a 
clever  make-up  and  wondered  who  it  was  who 
looked  so  much  like  Mr.  Stubbs's  son. 

Johnnie  suffered  the  extreme  pangs  of  jeal- 
ousy. Sally  told  him  that  as  he  was  a  boy,  and 
she  was  dressed  like  a  boy,  it  would  not  look 
well  for  them  to  dance  together.  "  Besides,"  she 
added,  "  you  can't  dance  anyway." 

"Can't  I?"  said  Johnnie.  "You  ought  to 
have  seen  me  dancing  to-night  with  Dad.  When 
Daisy  fired  the  pistol,  didn't  she  make  us  step 
lively?" 

"  I  don't  blame  her,"  said  Sally.  "  Whatever 
put  it  into  your  father's  head  to  think  he  could 
bring  a  doll  to  life?  " 

"  Oh,  he  meant  well,"  said  Johnnie.  "  He 
wants  me  to  get  married,  and  as  he  wasn't  satis- 
fied with  any  of  the  girls  in  the  village,  he 
thought  he'd  make  one  himself.  He  is  a  scien- 
tific man,  Dad  is.  'Cause  somebody  else  has  not 
done  things,  don't  stop  him.  He  wants  to  be  first 
in  everything,  and  I'm  just  like  him." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  197 

This  was  too  much  for  Sally,  who  turned  away 
laughing,  and  a  few  minutes  later  she  was  dan- 
cing with  a  little  peasant  girl,  who  felt  sure  that 
her  companion  was  Lieutenant  Harry  Goss  of 
the  Hussars,  who  had  told  her  that  he  was  going 
to  wear  an  Austrian  costume.  Such  mistakes, 
however,  are  numerous  at  masquerades,  where 
the  slightest  excuse  for  a  misunderstanding  is 
looked  upon  as  sufficient. 

Tom  and  Daisy  were  never  so  happy. 

"  This  is  Heaven !  "  said  Tom. 

"  If  it  is,"  replied  Daisy,  "  you  are  certainly 
out  of  place." 

Mr.  Toby  Whackers  and  Miss  Jennie  Jamieson 
Jones  were  a  most  noticeable  couple.  He  was 
dressed  as  a  Turk,  with  a  huge  scimitar  hanging 
by  his  side.  It  may  take  nine  tailors  to  make  a 
man,  but  that  night  he  looked  every  inch  a  Pasha, 
and  the  little  goose  who  accompanied  him  was 
so  impressed  with  his  manly  appearance  that  she 
suggested  his  selling  out  his  business  and  going 
to  live  in  Constantinople. 

Captain  Sabreton  had  not  discarded  his  mili- 
tary uniform  and  his  mask  did  not  prevent  him 


ig8  THE  TOYMAKERS 

from  being  recognized  by  all.  Then,  too,  the 
little  Swiss  peasant  girl,  to  whom  he  devoted 
most  of  his  time,  must  be  the  little  milliner  from 
Middleton-on  Quick;  but,  as  the  reader  knows, 
Miss  Ruth  Dunn  Moore  was  at  home  and,  un- 
doubtedly sound  asleep  at  the  time,  dreaming, 
perhaps,  of  her  darling  Horatio. 

At  a  masquerade,  everyone  becomes,  for  the 
time  being,  a  detective.  There  was  one  couple, 
however,  whose  identity  was  not  discovered  until 
the  great  bell  on  the  Barracks  tolled  out  the  hour 
of  twelve,  and  all  masks  were  removed.  Then 
there  were  signs  of  astonishment  both  in  words 
and  looks,  for  the  plump  little  lady  who  had 
worn  a  Shakespearean  costume,  presumably  that 
of  Anne  Boleyn,  one  of  Henry  the  Eighth's  un- 
fortunate wives,  proved  to  be  Mrs.  Merrily,  while 
the  stately  gentleman  who  had  been  attired  as  Sir 
John  Falstaff,  was  none  other  than  Squire  Bod- 
dley  Goldfish. 

Mrs.  Goldfish  told  one  of  her  Christmas  day 
callers  that  her  husband  had  been  aroused  from 
his  sleep  in  the  night  to  go  to  Mr.  Eales's  house, 
for  that  old  gentleman  felt  sure  that  he  could  not 


THE  TOYMAKERS  199 

live  until  morning  and  seemed  very  anxious  to 
have  a  will  made. 

The  morning  light  was  breaking  when  the 
party  broke  up.  Mr.  Barnabas  Briggs,  who  had 
quaffed  many  flagons  of  ale,  and  smoked  innu- 
merable pipes  of  tobacco,  had  his  six  sturdy 
horses  ready  for  the  return  trip. 

Daisy  had  intended  to  stay  at  Dunmoor  with 
Mrs.  Merrily,  but  her  search  for  that  lady  was 
unavailing,  and  Tom  persuaded  her  to  make  one 
of  the  home  party. 

After  Mr.  Briggs's  wagon  was  well  on  its  way 
towards  Middleton-on-Quick,  two  solitary  vehi- 
cles left  Dunmoor,  in  one  of  which  was  Mr. 
Whackers  and  his  intended,  while  the  other  was 
occupied  by  Mrs.  Merrily  and  Mrs.  Goldfish's 
husband. 


200  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

THE  UNDERWORLD 

IT  was  six  o'clock  when  the  little  party  reached 
Middleton-on-Quick.  The  passengers  had  been 
dropped  off  from  time  to  time,  so  that  when  Mr. 
Briggs  drove  up  to  the  little  cot  by  the  river,  only 
Tom,  Daisy,  Sally,  and  Johnnie  were  left. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Larkin  had  not  expected  Daisy 
so  soon,  but  Toby  was  alert  and  it  did  not  take 
him  long  to  convince  them  that  it  was  necessary 
to  open  the  front  door. 

Mr.  Stubbs  was  sitting  in  his  arm-chair,  fast 
asleep.  The  fire  had  gone  out,  and  the  room 
was  cold — very  cold. 

"  I  hope  he's  not  frozen,"  said  Johnnie.  "  I'm 
too  young  to  take  care  of  the  business." 

"  I  hope  he's  not  frozen,"  echoed  Tom ;  "  but 
I'm  old  enough  and  I  could  make  more  money 
out  of  the  business  than  he  does." 

"  Stop  your  nonsense,"  said  Sally.     "  You  go 


THE  TOYMAKERS  201 

and  get  some  wood,  Tom,  and  you,  Johnnie,  build 
the  fire.  When  he  gets  warm  he  will  wake  up." 

"  You  mean  he  will  thaw  out,"  said  Tom. 

"  Well,"  said  Sally,  "  if  his  tongue  has  been 
quiet  all  night,  when  it  does  start,  we'll  get 
enough  of  it." 

"  You  should  not  talk  that  way  about  my 
father,"  said  Johnnie,  seriously. 

"  Well,  I  guess  I  think  almost  as  much  of  him 
as  you  do.  When  you  thought  he  was  frozen,  the 
only  regret  you  had  was  that  you  were  too  young 
to  take  care  of  the  business.  I'd  rather  be  an  or- 
phan with  no  folks  or  nothing  than  to  have  a 
father  and  wish  him  in  his  grave,"  and  Sally 
flounced  out  of  the  room. 

"  She's  too  sharp  for  you,  Johnnie,"  said  Tom. 

"  That's  the  reason  I  want  her  in  the  family. 
Everybody  says  Dad  is  an  old  dough-head  and 
that  I  take  after  him,  and  I  think  we  ought  to 
have  one  smart  one  in  the  firm." 

Tom  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder:  "You're 
all  right,  Johnnie.  Your  heart  is  in  the  right 
place,  even  if  your  head  is  a  little  empty  some- 
times." 


202  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Johnnie  laughed :  "  You  have  the  same  trou- 
ble with  your  stomach  that  I  have  with  my  head, 
don't  you,  Tom?  But  you  suffer  more  than  I 
do." 

Tom  went  for  the  wood,  and  soon  a  bright  fire 
was  crackling  in  the  old  fireplace,  and  the  sparks 
went  merrily  up  the  chimney. 

The  old  gentleman  stretched  and  yawned  and 
finally  became  cognizant  of  his  surroundings. 

"  Is  that  you,  Johnnie?  " 

"  Merry  Christmas,  Dad !    I've  just  got  up." 

"  Is  Sally  up?  " 

"  Yes,  she's  getting  breakfast." 

"Where's  Tom?" 

"  Oh,  he's  helping  her." 

"Well,  he  wouldn't  be  if  he  didn't  think  he 
was  going  to  get  an  extra  good  breakfast." 

"  Didn't  you  go  to  bed  last  night,  Dad?  " 

"  No ;  I  was  so  tired  that  I  went  to  sleep  and 
forgot  to  wake  up.  My  back  is  lame,  my  neck 
aches,  and  my  feet  are  cold;  but  I'm  all  right.  I 
feel  just  as  well  as  though  I  had  gone  to  bed." 

"  Breakfast's  ready !  "  called  Sally. 

They  were  soon  gathered  about  the  table. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  203 

"Are  you  hungry,  Tom?"  asked  Mr.  Stubbs. 

"  Not  so  much  as  usual,  Uncle.  I  passed  a  hor- 
rible, terrible,  miserable  night." 

Mr.  Stubbs  never  got  off  his  hobby :  "  Over- 
eating is  what  did  it." 

"  Why,  Tom,  what  happened  to  you?  "  asked 
Sally,  who  did  not  think  that  her  employer's  ex- 
planation was  the  correct  one. 

"  Oh,  I  had  a  dream — a  regular  nightmare." 

"  That's  what  it  was — indigestion,"  said  Mr. 
Stubbs. 

"  Did  you  see  snakes?  "  asked  Sally. 

"  I  dreamed  I  died  and  went  down  below."  He 
lowered  his  voice  and  pointed  downward. 

Johnnie  became  interested :  "  Say,  Tommy, 
what  killed  you?  " 

"  Oh,  of  course  it  was  all  a  dream,  but  I 
thought — beg  your  pardon,  Uncle — but  I  thought 
you  pounded  me  to  death  with  a  big  stick  for 
over-eating,  and  the  first  question  that  Old  Nick 
asked  me  was:  'Tommy,  how  is  your  uncle?' 
I  had  a  long  and  pleasant  conversation  with  him, 
but  he  was  very  mad  about  something.  He  said 
there  was  a  man  who  was  trying  with  wicked 


204  THE  TOYMAKERS 

ways  to  steal  his  power  from  him.  He  said  he 
was  going  to  make  him  sick." 

"  What  had  the  man  done?  "  asked  Mr.  Stubbs. 

"  Well,  he  told  me  the  whole  story,"  said  Tom, 
"  but  he  didn't  give  any  names.  He  said  there 
was  an  old  fool  up  in  New  England  who  had 
made  a  doll  and  had  called  on  him  to  put  the 
breath  of  life  into  it.  It  seems  that  this  old  fel- 
low had  an  idea  that  if  he  could  bring  this  doll 
to  life,  she  would  make  a  good  wife  for  his  sou. 
Now,  the  Devil  does  not  like  to  have  anyone 
interfere  with  his  way  of  doing  things,  and  I 
should  not  be  surprised  if  that  man,  whoever  he 
is,  heard  from  him  at  an  early  date." 

Mr.  Stubbs  dropped  his  knife  and  fork  and 
moved  back  from  the  table.  His  cheeks,  which- 
were  usually  a  bright  red,  became  quite  pale. 

"  Are  you  sick,  Uncle?  "  asked  Tom. 

Mr.  Stubbs  stood  up  and  lifted  his  right  hand 
slowly :  "  He's  right,  Tom.  The  Devil  told  you 
the  truth,  and  I  am  the  man  who  made  the  doll." 

Tom  and  Sally  cried  out  together :    "  You?  " 

"  Yes.  I'm  going  to  tell  you  everything.  They 
eay  confession  is  good  for  the  soul.  I  made  the 


THE  TOYMAKERS  205 

doll — a  young  woman — really  human — but  she 
lacked  the  breath  of  life.  The  Devil  was  right; 
I  intended  she  should  be  Johnnie's  wife.  To 
bring  her  to  life,  I  tried  magic  arts  and  electric 
sparks,  but  all  in  vain.  In  my  despair  I  called 
upon  Satan.  He  always  comes  when  he's  called. 
He  put  life  into  her  veins,  but,  at  the  same  time, 
he  filled  her  chuck  full  of  his  own  deviltry." 

Johnnie  could  repress  himself  no  longer :  "  Yes, 
and  she  treated  us  shamefully.  She  broke  all  our 
dishes,  and  she  was  impudent  to  Dad.  It  made 
me  blush.  She  made  me  tell  her  all  I  knew,  got 
all  the  secrets  of  the  toy  business  out  of  Dad, 
gave  us  something  to  drink  that  made  us  boozy; 
then  she  made  us  dance,  and  sent  us  to  wake 
Tom  up  to  sing  for  her.  But  it  was  easy  so 
far." 

Mr.  Stubbs  shook  his  head  dolefully:  "Then 
the  Devil  took  possession  of  her.  You  tell  them, 
Johnnie." 

"  She  made  us  drill  and  march,  and  ride  horse- 
back ;  then  she  fired  pistols  at  us,  pushed  the  big 
dresser  over  on  top  of  us  and  broke  all  the 
dishes." 


206  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Sally  raised  both  her  hands  in  astonishment: 
"  It's  wonderful;  isn't  it,  Tom?  " 

"If  anybody  but  Uncle  had  told  me  that,  I 
wouldn't  have  believed  it." 

Sally  shook  her  head :    "  Of  course  not." 

Mr.  Stubbs  was  evidently  perturbed  in  his 
mind :  "  What  did  His — His — Satanic  Majesty 
say  about  me,  Tom?  " 

"  He  didn't  seem  to  be  prejudiced  against  you 
personally,  but  said,  in  a  general  way  that  when 
he  once  got  his  claws  on  a  person,  he  clung  to 
him  and  made  sure  of  him  unless  his  intended 
victim  made  a  full  confession  of  all  his  wrong- 
doings, did  the  right  thing  by  all  whom  he  had 
injured,  and  thus  escaped  his  power." 

Johnnie  looked  up  appealingly  to  his  father: 
"  Perhaps  it  ain't  my  place  to  give  advice,  Dad, 
but  if  I  was  you  I'd  own  up,  if  I  had  done  any- 
thing wrong,  and  square  myself  with  the  Devil, 
before  he  comes  after  you." 

"  Well,  I  have  owned  up  about  the  doll,  haven't 
I?"  and  Mr.  Stubbs  spoke  with  asperity. 

"WTell,  if  that's  all  you've  got  to  confess," 
said  Tom,  "  the  Old  Nick  can't  harm  you." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  207 

The  old  gentleman  scratched  his  head  reflec- 
tively :  "  No,  Tom ;  I  don't  think  I'm  quite  quits 
with  the  Devil  yet.  I've  had  something  on  my 
mind  for  a  good  many  years  and  I  suppose  he 
knows  all  about  it.  I  think  it  is  better  for  me 
to  tell  you  myself,  then  when  he  comes  up  I'll 
say — " 

"  Chestnut,"  suggested  Johnnie. 


208  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XXV, 

A  FORCED  CONFESSION 

"  TOM,"  Mr.  Stubbs  began  abruptly,  "  what 
gave  you  the  idea  that  your  father  left  you  any 
money?  You  were  only  five  years  old  when  he 
died  and  could  not  have  told  a  farthing  from  a 
sovereign." 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  could,"  said  Tom.  "  I  used  to  get 
lots  of  farthings,  but  nobody  ever  gave  me  a 
sovereign." 

"  Well,  that  ain't  answering  my  question. 
What  put  the  idea  into  your  head  that  there  was 
any  money  coming  to  you?  " 

Tom  hesitated :  "  I  don't  want  to  get  anybody 
else  into  trouble." 

"  You  needn't  worry  about  me,  Tom,"  said 
Sally.  "  I  told  him.  Somebody  sent  me  an 
'nonimous  letter  and  said  that  Tom's  father 
left  him  a  thousand  pounds." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  209 

"Where's  the  letter?"  asked  Mr.  Stubbs. 

"  I  don't  know.  I  had  it  in  my  room  and  it 
disappeared.  Somebody  must  have  stolen  it." 

"  I  took  it  and  burned  it  up,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs. 

"  I  bet  the  Devil  knows  all  about  that,  Dad," 
said  Johnnie. 

The  old  man  nodded :  "  And  of  course  he 
knows  that  I  have  the  money.  I  have  had  it  for 
fourteen  years.  I  put  it  in  the  bank  and  it  has 
toore  than  doubled;  but  I  had  a  right  to  it.  I 
was  to  have  the  use  of  it  until  you  were  twenty- 
one  years  old,  and  you  are  only  nineteen  now. 
But  I'll  give  you  a  note  and  a  mortgage,  Tom, 
and  I'll  allow  you  two  per  cent  interest  on  your 
money.  I'd  give  you  more,  but,  you  know,  trade 
has  been  dull." 

"  If  I  get  the  money  my  father  left  me,  Uncle, 
I  shall  be  satisfied." 

"That's  all  right,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs,  "but 
I  want  the  Devil  to  be  satisfied  too." 

The  prospect  of  what  seemed  to  him  a  great 
fortune  in  two  years  appeased  all  the  angry  feel- 
ings Tom  had  against  Mr.  Stubbs,  so  he  thought 


210  THE  TOYMAKERS 

it  his  duty  to  encourage  him :  "  I  don't  think 
the  Devil  will  trouble  you  any  more." 

There  was  a  dubious  expression  on  Mr.  Stubbs's 
face :  "  No,  I  ain't  satisfied.  That  doll  has  got 
to  go  out  of  this  house.  Let  the  Devil  have  her 
and  welcome." 

"  Where  is  she  now?  "  asked  Sally  in  her  most 
innocent  manner. 

"  She's  in  the  spare  room." 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  about  it,  Dad?  " 
asked  Johnnie. 

"  I  have  decided.  Johnnie,  bring  me  the  mal- 
let." 

It  was  a  ponderous,  wooden  implement,  with  a 
long  handle,  and  a  head  almost  six  inches  in 
diameter.  Mr.  Stubbs  started  towards  the  spare 
room,  mallet  in  hand. 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do?  "  asked  Sally. 

Mr.  Stubbs  turned  upon  her  fiercely :  "  Break 
her  up!  Disintegrate  her!  Pulverize  her! 
Obliterate  her  from  the  face  of  the  earth !  Sweep 
her  off  this  terrestrial  globe." 

Johnnie  agreed  with  his  father :  "  She  must  be 
swept." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  211 

"  Now,  I  am  going  to  do  the  right  thing,"  said 
Mr.  Stubbs.  "  I  will  send  her  back  to  her 
friends." 

Mr.  Stubbs  unlocked  the  door  and  entered  the 
spare  room.  He  had  not  been  gone  long  when 
there  were  sounds  of  terrific  pounding.  Above 
all  could  be  heard  a  voice  exclaiming :  "  Take 
that !  Take  that,  you  little  Devil ! " 

"  The  game  is  up,"  said  Tom.  "  When  he 
finds  out  the  truth,  he  will  turn  all  of  us  out- 
doors. I  think  we  had  better  follow  his  example 
and  confess  before  the  Devil  gets  us.  I  am  going 
down  to  get  Daisy  and  come  back  and  make  a 
clean  breast  of  it.  You  two  had  better  keep,  out 
of  the  way  until  he  knows  the  whole  truth." 

"  I  think  so  too,"  said  Sally.  "  He  knows  I 
know." 

"  I'm  agreed,"  said  Johnnie.  "  I  know  too 
much  myself." 

When  Mr.  Stubbs  returned  to  the  room,  mal- 
let in  hand,  there  was  no  one  in  sight.  He  called 
loudly  for  his  son,  and  Tom,  and  Sally,  but  there 
was  no  response.  Then  he  sank  dejectedly  into 
his  armchair.  He  seemed  dissatisfied.  He  went 


212  THE  TOYMAKERS 

out  to  the  woodshed  and  got  a  large  basket,  which 
he  took  into  the  spare  room,  and  was  absent  for 
some  time.  When  he  returned,  the  basket  was 
full  of  the  broken  fragments  which  had  once 
formed  his  great  creation.  He  sat  down,  placed 
the  basket  before  him,  and  soliloquized : 

"  No  fond  papa  ever  looked  into  the  smiling 
face  of  his  first  born  with  more  rapture  than  I 
did  when  I  put  the  finishing  touches  to  my  great 
work  of  art.  But  all  my  plans  have  met  with 
defeat.  My  beautiful  doll,  which  cost  me  so 
much  toil  and  trouble,  is  forever  lost  and  gone 
to  smash.  That  was  my  masterpiece.  The  Devil 
put  a  soul  into  it,  but  it  was  accursed  from  the 
moment  he  did  it.  If  you  wish  to  raise  a  child, 
I  am  convinced  that  you  cannot  improve  on  the 
old  way.  I  was  a  fool  to  think  that  I  could  get 
the  best  of  nature." 

Then  he  grew  reflective.  He  was  naturally  a 
shrewd  man,  but  for  a  while  his  wits  and  been 
wool-gathering.  He  arose  and  brought  his  oaken 
staff  down  upon  the  floor  with  a  heavy  thud. 

"  There  is  some  mystery  here !  I  have  not  got 
all  that  belongs  to  me.  There  is  nothing  here 


THE  TOYMAKERS  213 

but  the  carcass.  Where  are  all  those  fine  clothes 
that  I  bought  for  the  doll?  Perhaps  the  Devil 
came  and  got  them.  No,  that's  nonsense.  I 
wonder  what  it  all  means!  I  believe  there's 
some  human  deviltry  here  as  well  as  Devil  devil- 
try, and  I  believe  that  scapegrace  of  a  nephew 
of  mine  it  at  the  bottom  of  it.  If  he  has  played 
any  game  on  me,  he  will  never  get  that  money 
until  he  goes  to  court  and  makes  me  pay  it,  and 
I  will  spend  the  whole  of  it  in  fighting  him  be- 
fore I'll  let  him  get  a  farthing. 


214  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

DEIVEN  FROM   HOME 

A  SHORT  distance  from  the  little  red  mill  was 
an  old  well.  It  was  very  deep — fully  sixty  feet 
from  curb  to  bottom.  It  had  run  dry  some  years 
before,  and  Mr.  Stubbs's  first  thought  was  that 
he  would  have  it  filled  up.  Then  he  reflected 
that  if  he  dug  a  hole  in  order  to  get  earth  to  fill 
the  well,  he  would  have  another  big  hole  that  he 
would  have  to  fill  in  in  turn.  So  the  old  well 
was  boarded  over. 

"  The  water  may  come  back  again  some  day," 
he  said  to  Johnnie. 

Taking  the  basket  of  disjecta  membra,  he  made 
his  way  to  the  old  well.  He  lifted  the  cover 
and  emptied  out  the  contents  of  the  basket. 

"  There,"  said  he,  as  he  replaced  the  cover, 
"  if  the  Devil  wants  what's  left  of  her,  he  can 
go  down  and  get  her." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  215 

If  the  Devil  himself  had  sprung  up  out  of  the 
well,  he  would  not  have  been  more  surprised  than 
he  was  to  see  what  he  did  see  when  he  returned 
to  the  house.  There  stood  the  Devil  and  the  doll. 
His  first  thought  was  to  turn  and  run,  but  he 
was  quick-eyed  and  quick-witted,  and  there  was 
something  in  the  faces  of  both  that  struck  him  as 
familiar.  He  approached  and  surveyed  each 
critically. 

"  Thomas  Bright  and  Daisy  Dane !  My  dress ! 
What  an  old  gudgeon  I  have  been ! "  he  heard 
steps  behind  him  and  turned  quickly.  There 
stood  Sally  and  Johnnie.  As  if  by  one  accord, 
the  four  knelt  before  him. 

Mr.  Stubbs  shut  his  teeth  firmly  together.  His 
face  was  purple;  he  frothed  at  the  mouth;  he 
looked  mad,  acted  mad,  and  he  was  mad.  He 
stammered  out :  "  W-what — what  does  all  this 
mean?" 

"  It  was  all  a  joke !  "  Tom  could  not  have  said 
any  more  to  have  saved  his1  life. 

"  A  joke !  "  cried  Mr.  Stubbs.  "  It's  an  out- 
rage, a  swindle,  a  conspiracy.  I'll  have  you  ar- 
rested for  this,  and  you,  too,  Miss  Dane.  You're 


216  THE  TOYMAKERS 

a  thief.     You  stole  my  dress."     He  turned  to 
Sally:    "  Did  you  know  about  this?  " 

"  I  couldn't  help  it,"  she  sniffled. 

"And  you,  Johnnie?" 

"  Sally  wouldn't  let  me  tell." 

"  And  so  you  think  more  of  Sally  than  you 
do  of  me — your  own  father?  I  have  just  thrown 
what  was  left  of  the  doll  down  the  old  well,  and 
I  have  a  good  mind  to  send  you  all  after  her. 
But  if  I  killed  you  all,  my  revenge  would  be 
satisfied  too  soon.  As  for  you,  Miss  Dane,  I'll 
have  you  arrested  for  theft,  and  you  will  go  to 
jail.  I'll  give  the  rest  of  you  just  five  minutes 
to  get  out  of  my  house,  and  don't  you  ever  darken 
my  doors  again." 

By  this  time  Tom  had  recovered  a  little  of  his 
courage :  "  I'll  be  around  in  two  years  to  get 
my  money." 

.  "  Well,  you  won't  get  it.  I'll  fight  you  as  long 
as  there's  a  farthing  of  it  left.  I'll  burn  up  the 
mill.  I'll  go  into  bankruptcy.  None  of  you  will 
ever  get  a  farthing  from  me.  Now,  get  out  of 
here  quick,  all  of  you." 

It  is  said  of  many  people  that  when  they  ap- 


THE  TOYMAKERS  217 

proach  the  supreme  crisis  of  their  lives,  instead 
of  doing  something  noble  and  dignified,  their  ac- 
tions are  inconsequential  and  often  silly.  Three 
of  the  culprits  knew  that  they  were  driven  from 
home;  the  other  felt  that  her  fate  would  be  a 
prison  cell.  In  spite  of  this  impending  doom, 
however,  the  influence  of  the  day  was  upon  them. 
They  had  not  anticipated  such  an  outburst  of 
passion.  They  had  thought  he  would  be  angry 
at  first,  and  then  look  upon  it  as  a  good  joke, 
as  they  did.  They  had  come  with  peace  in  their 
hearts  and  good  will  to  men  to  acknowledge  their 
misdeeds,  and  had  hoped  for  forgiveness.  Their 
reception  had  taken  from  them  all  power  of  argu- 
ment or  entreaty.  Mr.  Stubbs  pointed  towards 
the  door  and  they  made  their  way  thither.  Not 
one  could  have  told  just  what  impelled  him  or 
her  to  say  what  they  did,  but  before  they  made 
their  exit,  Daisy  and  Sally  said :  "  Merry  Christ- 
mas, Mr.  Stubbs." 

Tom  added :    "  Merry  Christmas,  Uncle." 
Johnnie,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  blurted  out: 
"  Merry  Christmas,  Dad." 

Then  with  one  accord  they  cried  out  in  unison : 
"  Good-bye,"  and  were  gone. 


218  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XVII 

OLD  HOBBLEQUINN 

MR.  JOHN  BULL  STUBBS  was  mad  from  the 
top  of  his  head  to  the  toe  of  his  boot.  He  had 
been  tricked  by  that  ne'er-do-well  Tom,  by  that 
scullion  Sally,  and,  worst  of  all,  by  his  idolized 
son — his  Johnnie.  Strange  to  say,  Daisy  was  not 
a  subject  for  his  maledictions.  He  identified  her 
with  the  doll — his  creation — and  for  that,  and 
her,  he  had  now  the  kindest  feelings.  If  Daisy 
had  really  been  his  doll,  endowed  with  life,  he 
would  have  loved  her  as  a  daughter — and  to  find 
that  he  was  the  butt  of  a  joke — it  was  too  much 
for  a  high-blooded  Englishman  to  bear  with 
equanimity. 

He  threw  himself  into  his  arm-chair — then  he 
remembered  that  he  had  not  locked  the  door. 
When  he  saw  the  unwashed  breakfast  dishes, 
his  rage  was  rekindled,  not  so  much  on  account 


THE  TOYMAKERS  219 

of  what  had  taken  place,  but  the  life  in  store  for 
him. 

Again  seated  in  the  arm-chair,  his  anger  began 
to  cool.  He  wished  to  keep  angry,  and  he  won- 
dered why  it  was  being  gradually  subdued. 
Then  it  occurred  to  him  that  his  fire  had  gone 
out,  and  there  was  no  wood.  He  brought  some 
from  the  shed,  and  burned  his  fingers  while  light- 
ing it.  He  remembered  how  many  things  Tom 
had  done  for  him,  for  which  he  had  given  him  no 
credit — and  no  pay.  What  was  he  to  have  for 
dinner,  with  no  Sally  to  prepare  the  dishes  that 
he  liked?  There  was  no  one  to  talk  to.  He 
missed  Johnnie,  who  was  always  amusing  and 
entertaining,  even  if  he  was  not  an  adept  in 
book  learning. 

Had  he  done  right  in  turning  them  out?  Cer- 
tainly he  had.  They  had  made  fun  of  him — an 
old  man.  He  recalled  the  story  of  Elijah  and 
the  bears — his  experience  was  worse,  for  he  had 
an  ungrateful  son. 

The  hours  passed.  What  a  Christmas!  No 
fine  dinner — for  though  he  was  close  in  money 
matters,  there  had  always  been  a  plenteous  table 


220  THE  TOYMAKERS 

set — for  himself  and  Johnnie.  As  has  been  seen, 
Sally  and  Tom  looked  out  for  themselves,  but 
it  would  have  been  suicidal  on  their  part  to  let 
Mr.  Stubbs  think  they  were  satisfied.  They  had 
not  suffered  from  hunger,  and  Tom's  continual 
complaints  were  base  subterfuges  to  avoid  arous- 
ing suspicion. 

There  was  a  knock  at  the  door.  Mr.  Stubbs 
yelled :  "  Come  in,"  but  no  one  appeared.  Then 
he  remembered  the  locked  door.  When  he  opened 
it,  there  stood  Old  Hobblequinn,  the  village  con- 
stable, on  crutches. 

Mr.  Quinn  followed  him  into  the  best  room, 
and  they  sat  down  before  the  fire. 

"  Merry  Christmas,  Mr.   Stubbs." 

"  You  look  it.  What  have  you  been  doing  to 
yourself?  " 

"  Only  a  sprained  knee — but  a  physical  pain 
is  not  so  bad  as  a  mental  sorrow." 

"  Well,  thank  fortune,  I've  got  neither,"  said 
Mr.  Stubbs. 

"  Are  you  sure  of  that?  "  asked. Mr.  Quinn. 

Mr.  Stubbs's  temper  rose :  "  What  do  you 
mean?  Who's  been  telling  you  tales?  " 


THE  TOYMAKERS  221 

"  Not  tales,  but  truth,  I  am  told.  The  Squire 
has  sent  me  here  to  find  out,  and  I've  left  a  sick 
bed  to  do  my  duty  as  a  king's  officer." 

"  What  have  you  to  do  with  me?  I  have 
broken  no  law  of  God  or  man." 

Mr.  Quinn  took  the  offensive:  "Is  that  so, 
Mr.  Stubbs?  Is  it  not  an  offence  against  the 
Almighty  to  turn  your  own  flesh  and  blood  out 
of  doors  on  His  own  day?  Answer  me  that  in 
the  name  of  the  king." 

"  I'll  answer  you  nought.  This  is  my  own 
house  and  I'll  do  as  I  please." 

"  No,  you'll  not,  Mr.  Stubbs,  when  you've 
threatened  to  burn  it  and  when  you  owe  money." 

"  I  owe  no  man.    I've  paid  all  my  bills." 

"  The  Squire  does  not  think  so,  and  I  serve 
this  paper  on  you,  and  you  must  bring  your  body 
before  the  law  to  answer  to  one  Thomas  Bright 
for  money  due  him." 

"  It  isn't  due  yet." 

"  Then  you  have  his  money,  and  you  did 
threaten  to  go  into  bankruptcy." 

"  And  I  will,  if  I  choose." 

"  But  no  you  won't,  for  this  paper  is  an  attach- 


222  THE  TOYMAKERS 

merit  in  the  name  of  the  king,  and  you'll  neither 
buy  nor  sell,  except  with  the  consent  of  his  law 
officer,  the  Squire." 

"  He's  not  of  age,  and  the  money  is  not  due 
till  then." 

"  You  have  your  rights,  Mr.  Stubbs,  as  an 
English  free  man,  but  so  has  he.  You  promis'ed 
to  give  a  note,  which  you  must  do,  with  interest, 
and  good  security  that  it  will  be  paid.  That  is 
all  the  law  asks.  Have  you  this  young  man's 
certificate  of  birth?" 

Mr.  Stubbs  was  crestfalletn.  He  knew  he  had 
been  beaten.  He  could  flout  Tom  and  Sally,  but 
not  the  law.  He  went  to  an  old  secretary  and 
brought  out  an  old  yellowed  paper. 

"  Read  that,  Mr.  Quinn." 

The  constable  put  on  his  spectacles  and  pe- 
rused the  document.  "  You've  made  a  great 
mistake,  Mr.  Stubbs.  It  is  nineteen  years  since 
this  paper  was  made  out,  but  it  says  the  boy  was 
born  twenty  one  years  ago,  lacking  a  month  or 
so.  You  thought  the  date  of  the  document  was 
the  boy's  birthday,"  and  Mr.  Quinn  laughed 
officially.  "  Mr.  Stubbs,  you're  a  good  business 


THE  TOYMAKERS  223 

man,  but  the  law  has  keen  eyes.  To-morrow,  at 
ten  of  the  hour,  appear  before  the  Squire,  or  the 
penalty  be  upon  you.  I'll  take  this  certificate 
to  the  Squire." 

Mr.  Quinn  raised  himself  upon  his  crutches  and 
walked  slowly  to  the  door,  followed  by  the  old 
toymaker.  As  the  constable  stepped  over  the 
sill  he  turned :  "  Mr.  Stubbs,  remember  the 
meaning  of  this  day — peace  on  earth,  good  will 
to  men.-' 

"  Mr.  Stubbs  went  back  to  his  arm-chair.  He 
was  hungry,  but  could  not  eat.  He,  John  Bull 
Stubbs,  haled  before  the  Squire !  Then  he  got  his 
Bible  and  searched  until  he  found  and  read  over 
and  over  again  /  Timothy,  sixth  chapter,  and 
tenth  verse. 


224  THE  TOYMAKERS 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

OLD  PINCH 

IT  was  five  o'clock  on  Christmas  afternoon 
when  Squire  Goldfish  mounted  the  steps  of  the 
most  pretentious  mansion  in  Middleton-on-Quick. 
His  servant  Josephus  had  espied  him  coming  up 
the  walk  and  opened  the  door  with  an  obsequious 
bow.  The  Squire  required  politeness  from  his 
servants,  but  he  paid  for  it  with  numerous 
"tips."  He  often  said  to  Mrs.  Goldfish  that 
"  the  master  of  a  house  should  not  rule  it  by 
fear." 

"  Is  Mrs.  Goldfish  at  home?  "  asked  the  Squire. 

Josephus  pointed  towards  the  library  door. 

The  Squire  entered  the  room  and  threw  him- 
self into  an  easy-chair :  "  I'm  so  glad  to  be  at 
home  with  my — " 

"  I  should  think  you   would  be,"  said  his  wife. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  225 

"  Boddley,  I  haven't  laid  eyes  on  you  since  Christ- 
mas eve,  nearly  twenty-four  hours  ago." 

There  was  a  razor-edge  to  her  voice,  and  the 
Squire  prepared  himself  for  some  cutting  re- 
marks— by  speaking  in  a  softly-modulated  under- 
tone. 

"  My  dear  Eunice,  the  demands  of  my  official 
position  cannot  be  ignored — but  you  have  a  right 
to  demand  an  explanation,  and  you  shall  have 
it." 

Mrs.  Goldfish's  expression  indicated  that  the 
explanation  might  require  corroborative  testi- 
mony. 

"  My  dear  Eunice — " 

Mrs.  Goldfish  shrugged  her  shoulders  to  show 
that  her  sourness  could  not  be  affected  by  con- 
nubial sugar-plums. 

The  Squire  proceeded :  "  When  we  parted — 
it  seems  an  age — I  was  on  my  way  to  see  poor 
Mr.  Quinn.  Doctor  Bunch  attended  him  profes- 
sionally, and  after  cheering  him  up,  I  came  home 
and  prepared  to  retire.  You  were  sleeping  peace- 
fully. At  that  moment,  Josephus  informed  me 
that  Mr.  Eales  had  sent  word  that  he  was  very 


226  THE  TOYMAKERS 

low  and  wished  to  make  his  will.  Our  relations 
have  always  been  very  pleasant,  and  I  could  not 
refuse  an  old  friend's  last  request." 

The  Squire  mopped  his  perspiring  forehead 
and  Mrs.  Goldfish  re-adjusted  her  lace  cap. 

"  I  found  Mr.  Pinch  in  one  of  his  peculiar 
moods.  He  was  not  ready  to  make  his  will,  but 
insisted  on  my  remaining  with  him.  I  should 
have  done  so,  but  Josephus  told  the  telegraph 
messenger  from  Dunmoor  where  I  was,  and  I 
received  the  message.  I  went  at  once  to  Dun- 
moor,  promising  Mr.  Pinch  that  I  would  return 
early  this  morning." 

"Did  you  go  to  the  Hussars  Ball?"  There 
was  a  tone  in  Mrs.  Goldfish's  voice  which  con- 
veyed a  warning  that  a  falsehood  might  lead  to 
a  revelation.  To  her  surprise,  perhaps,  the 
Squire  replied: 

"  I  had  to  go.  I  was  obliged  to  see  a  person 
who  was  there." 

"And   that   person  was — ?'"     There  was  a. 
steel  glint  in  the  woman's  eye. 

The  Squire,  unabashed,  said :  "  Mrs.  Margaret 
Merrily." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  227 

"  I  thought  so ;  and  what  was  the  very  import- 
ant business  that  caused  you  to  seek  her  in  a  pub- 
lic place?  Why  not  have  waited  and  seen  her  at 
home?  You  have  been  there  often." 

Mrs.  Goldfish  could  not  deprive  herself  of  the 
opportunity  to  show  her  knowledge  of  her  hus- 
band's whereabouts  on  certain  occasions — for  vil- 
lage gossips  are  accurate  and  prompt  messengers 
of  both  good  and,  presumably,  evil  news. 

The  Squire  smiled  blandly.  His  official 
dignity  had  served  him  well  at  many  a  trying 
moment. 

"  My  dear  Eunice  " — another  shrug  by  Mrs. 
Goldfish — "  I  am  going  to  tell  you  a  wonderful 
story — a  most  mysterious  coincidence.  Every 
house  has  its  skeleton,  every  family,  except  yours, 
its  black  sheep.  Mine  is  not  an  exception  to  the 
rule.  I  had  a  younger  brother;  a  wild,  rollick- 
ing boy  named  Hadley.  He  ran  away  to  sea 
when  but  nineteen,  and  I  have  never  heard  from 
him  until  I  received  that  wire." 

"  Is  he  coming  here?  He  shan't  live  in  this 
house."  Mrs.  Goldfish  spoke  decidedly. 


228  THE  TOYMAKERS 

"  No,  my  dear,  he  has  gone  to  his  last  home — 
he  is  dead." 

"  Is  that  the  mystery?  Such  events  are  quite 
common  in  this  world."  Mrs.  Goldfish  felt  re- 
lieved. She  had  feared  that  this  scapegrace  was 
to  become  an  inmate  of  her  peaceful  home. 

"  No,  the  mystery  is  coming.  It  seems  he 
married  a  young  Scotch  lassie  named  Margaret 
Merrily." 

Mrs.  Goldfish  hoped  inwardly  that  the  Scotch 
lassie  was  no  relation  to  that  detestable  Mrs. 
Merrily  of  Middleton-on-Quick. 

"  The  lassie  became  Mrs.  Hadley  Goldfish — 
but  in  a  few  months  her  husband  deserted  her, 
and  she  had  never  heard  from  him  until  I  told 
her  of  his  death." 

"  Boddley !  "  cried  Mrs.  Goldfish,  as  she  sprang 
to  her  feet.  "  Do  you  dare  to  tell  me  that  Marga- 
ret Merrily  was  ever  your  brother's  wife?  " 

"  Just  that,"  said  the  Squire,  and  he  shut  his 
jaws  with  a  snap.  "  You  ought  to  be  pleased,  for 
your  friends  will  not  trouble  you  with  gossip 
about  me  in  the  future." 

The  Squire  lay  back  in  his  chair.    He  did  not 


THE  TOYMAKERS  229 

try  to  follow  up  his  advantage.  No  good  man 
will  humiliate  his  wife  unnecessarily. 

Mrs.  Goldfish  did  not  belie  her  name.  She 
was  mute.  The  blow  was  so  heavy  that  silence 
was  the  only  anodyne.  The  Squire  was  as  jolly 
as  a  fox  hunter  with  the  brush  in  hand. 

"  On  my  way  back  from  Dunmoor,  with  my 
sister-in-law,  I  stopped  at  Mr.  Pinch's  and  he 
was  ready  to  make  his  will." 

Mrs.  Goldfish  roused  herself.  He  should  not 
see  that  she  took  the  "  mystery  "  much  to  heart. 
"  Who  gets  all  his  money?  " 

"  I  will  tell  you  as  soon  as  he  is  dead.  Doctor 
Bunch  said  that  he  was  tough  and  might  last  a 
day  or  two." 

"  You  have  accounted  for  part  of  your  time. 
Where  have  you  been  since  you  left  your  sister- 
in-law?" 

"  Very  busy,  officially.  On  my  way  from  Mr. 
Pinch's,  I  met  young  Stubbs,  his  cousin  Tom, 
Sally,  the  servant,  and  Miss  Dane.  There  has 
been  a  rumpus  at  Stubbs's  and  he  turned  them 
all  out  of  doors,  excepting  Miss  Dane,  of  course. 
They  had  a  long  story  to  tell,  and  then  I  had 


230  THE  TOYMAKERS 

to  see  Mr.  Quinn  and  make  out  a  summons  for 
Mr.  Stubbs  to  appear  before  me  to-morrow  morn- 
ing." 

"  Where  did  the  children  go? "  asked  Mrs. 
Goldfish.  She  had  a  motherly  side  to  her.  There 
were  two  little  Goldfishes  in  the  village  church- 
yard. Perhaps,  if  they  had  lived,  her  husband 
would  not  have  received  so  much  of  her  attention. 
But  it  is  only  really  wicked  husbands  who  take 
advantage  of  such  a  situation. 

"  That  took  some  time  to  decide,"  said  the 
Squire.  "At  last  Miss  Dane  took  Sally  home 
with  her,  but  I  had  to  go  and  explain  matters  to 
old  Mr.  Larkin  and  his  wife.  I  put  the  boys  in 
charge  of  Mr.  Quinn,  telling  him  to  hold  them  as 
witnesses.  And  now,  my  dear,  I  am  very  tired, 
and  very  hungry,  and  I'd  like  my  supper." 

The  next  morning  at  half-past  ten,  Squire 
Goldfish  sat  in  his  magisterial  chair.  Mr.  Quinn's 
injury  could  not  have  been  as  great  as  he,  at 
first  feared,  or  Dr.  Bunch's  skill  had  performed 
wonders,  for  the  constable  had  discarded  his 
crutches  and  limped  in,  supported  by  a  heavy 
cane.  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Stubbs,  Johnnie, 


THE  TOYMAKERS  231 

Sally,  Tom,  and  Daisy.  The  last  mentioned 
young  lady  insisted  upon  coming  to  see  justice 
done  to  Tom. 

"  Mr.  Stubbs,''  said  the  Squire,  "  I  understand 
that  you  acknowledge  you  owe  Thomas  Bright 
one  thousand  pounds  to  be  repaid  when  he  is 
of  age.  Mr.  Constable  Quinn  has  placed  a  docu- 
ment in  my  hands  which  shows  that  he  will 
reach  his  majority  in  less  than  two  months." 

"  I've  offered  him  two  per  cent  interest,  and  I 
never  go  back  on  my  word." 

The  Squire  nodded  his  approval :  "  How 
much  money  did  you  have  in  your  business,  Mr. 
Stubbs,  when  you  added  Mr.  Bright's  thousand 
pounds  to  your  capital?  " 

Mr.  Stubbs  did  some  mental  arithmetic:  "At 
least  two  thousand  pounds,  your  Honor." 

The  Squire  nodded  again :  "  I  hardly  think 
Mr.  Bright  is  obliged  to  accept  your  offer  of 
two  per  cent  interest.  If  he  will  carry  his*  case 
before  the  courts,  I  think  they  will  allow  him 
a  third  interest  in  the  profits.  That  would  be 
my  decision.  You  can  accept  it,  Mr.  Stubbs,  or 
carry  the  cas-e  before  a  higher  court." 


232  THE  TOYMAKERS 

What  Mr.  Stubbs  intended  to  say  will  never  be 
known.  While  he  was  cogitating,  Josephus 
entered  and  whispered  in  the  Squire's  ear,  re- 
tiring noiselessly. 

"  How  opportune ! "  said  the  Squire,  and  his 
small  audience  looked  at  him  inquiringly.  "  I 
have  just  heard  something,  ladies  and  gentle- 
men, which  will  fill  your  hearts  with  sorrow — 
Old  Mr.  Pinch — I  mean  Mr.  Eales — is  dead." 

Johnnie  looked  at  Sally.  He  laughed  aloud, 
while  she  stuffed  her  handkerchief  into  her 
mouth — but  not  to  choke  her  sobs.  Tom  and 
Daisy  smiled — they  could  not  help  it.  Cry  be- 
cause Old  Pinch  was  dead — that  grouty  old 
miser?  Why,  there  wasn't  a  dog  in  Middleton- 
on-Quick  that  wouldn't  wag  his  tail  when  he 
heard  the  news.  Mr.  Stubbs  was  wondering  if 
people  would  laugh  when  he  died — when  the 
Squire  spoke: 

"  Mr.  Pinch's  death  so  intimately  concerns  a 
person  present  here,  that  I  feel  it  my  duty  to 
disclose  some  important  information  in  my  pos- 
session. Mr.  Pinch  left  a  fortune  of  at  least  ten 
thousand  pounds  to  his  only  living  relative — 


THE  TOYMAKERS  233 

a  niece — his  only  sister's  child.  That  child's 
name  is  Drummond — Dorothy  Drummond." 

Looks  of  astonishment  were  on  the  faces  of 
his  listeners.  Who  was  Dorothy  Drummond, 
and  what  did  it  matter  to  anyone  there  who  she 
was? 

"  Before  Mr.  Pinch  died,  he  told  me  a  strange 
story.  Many  years  ago  his  sister  sent  for  him. 
She  was  on  her  death-bed.  She  had  a  little 
daughter  whom  she  confided  to  his  care.  He 
allowed  his  sister  to  be  buried  by  the  Poor  Law 
Guardians,  and  escaped  caring  for  his  own  niece 
by  leaving  her  on  the  doorsteps  of  our  good  citi- 
zen, Mr.  Stubbs." 

Sally  gave  a  scream  and  seemed  on  the  verge 
of  hysterics.  Johnnie  took  her  in  his  arms  and 
quieted  her.  Tom  and  Daisy  congratulated  her 
on  her  good  fortune. 

"  I  am  glad,"  said  the  Squire,  "  that  Mr.  Pinch 
has  atoned,  in  some  degree,  for  his  lack  of  family 
responsibility.  Mr.  Stubbs,  have  you  decided  to 
carry  your  case  up  higher?  " 

"  Under   the   circumstances,   your   Honor,    I 


234  THE  TOYMAKERS 

think  I'll  do  full  justice  while  I  live,  instead  of 
leaving  a  will  to  do  it  for  me." 

Impulsive,  innocent  Daisy  went  to  the  old  man, 
put  her  arms  about  his  neck  and  kissed  him. 
When  she  turned  away,  both  had  tears  in  their 
eyes. 

"  Please  your  Honor,"  said  Sally,  "  what's  my 
real  name?  " 

"  Dorothy  Drummond.  Your  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Dorothy  Pinch — I  mean  Bales." 

"  You  won't  have  that  name  long,"  cried 
Johnnie.  "  I  don't  like  it.  You've  always  been 
Sally  Smiles,  and,  with  Dad's  permission,  we'll 
soon  turn  it  into  Sally  Stubbs." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  235 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

THE  STUFFED  BEAR 

RALPH  CROWDERS,  Lord  Dunmoor,  was  really 
an  unhappy  man.  In  the  first  place,  he  was  an 
old  bachelor,  and  such  a  man  leads  only  half  a 
life.  No  man,  however,  resourceful,  ever  was 
all  he  could  be  without  the  company,  advice,  and 
sympathy  of  a  good  woman.  At  first  she  might 
not  be  his  wife,  but  when  he  found  her  to  be  in- 
dispensable, then  he  would  insist  upon  the  knot 
being  tied.  If  the  reader  doubts  this,  let  him 
or  her  read  the  biographies  of  the  great  men  of 
the  country.  In  the  second  place,  Lord  Dunmoor 
had  too  much  money,  and  he  did  not  know  what 
to  do  with  it.  When  a  man  earns  money,  he 
appreciates  its  value,  and  looks  to  get  its  full 
value  when  he  spends  it.  If  it  comes  to  him  un- 
earned, and,  in  the  case  of  Lord  Dunmoor,  un- 
sought, he  is  apt  to  become  either  a  spendthrift 
or  a  miser.  By  no  possibility  could  Lord  Dun- 


236  THE  TOYMAKERS 

moor  become  a  spendthrift,  nor  had  he  the  sav- 
ing propensities  of  a  miser,  but  as  he  did  not 
know  how  to  spend  his  money,  and  therefore 
hoarded  it,  he  became  an  involuntary  miser. 

Lord  Dunmoor  was  not  social  in  his  nature. 
The  Castle  was  large  and  finely  furnished  in 
the  old-fashioned  style.  The  conservatory  was 
not  full  of  flowers,  but  a  little  of  his  money 
would  have  put  them  there.  The  gentry  of  the 
neighborhood  would  have  been  pleased  if  they 
had  received  invitations  to  social  functions  at 
the  Castle.  If  the  Lord  had  had  a  wife,  the 
Castle  would  have  been  rejuvenated,  revivified, 
and,  in  time,  would  have  been  filled  with  the 
laughter  of  children. 

There  was  a  large  library  at  Dunmoor  Castle. 
The  previous  Lord  had  been  a  bibliophile.  He 
had  not  filled  his  library  by  sending  to  London 
for  so  many  feet  of  books,  but  each  volume  had 
been  carefully  selected.  It  was  particularly  rich 
in  works  of  travel,  and,  as  the  present  Lord  had 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  a  wanderer 
in  strange  lands,  this  part  of  the  library  was 
its  great,  in  fact  its  onlj  attraction  for  him.  An4 


THE  TOYMAKERS  237 

jet  the  reading  of  these  books  was  not  an  un- 
alloyed pleasure,  for  many  a  time  he  had  thrown 
a  volume  upon  the  floor  declaring  that  "  the 
whole  thing  was  a  lie,  because  he  had  been  there 
and  had  seen  for  himself  and  knew  that  it  was 
not  so." 

It  is  not  true  that  he  was  without  friends. 
He  had  made  the  acquaintance  of  Captain  Sabre- 
ton,  who  had  become  his  best  friend.  The  Cap- 
tain, in  turn,  had  introduced  him  to  several 
members  of  his  mess,  and  they  had  been  wel- 
come guests  at  the  Castle  at  long  intervals.  Cap- 
tain Sabreton,  however,  was  privileged  to  visit 
Lord  Dunmoor  at  any  time  and,  as  a  rule,  availed 
himself  of  this  privilege  at  least  twice  a  week. 

Christmas  day  was  a  long  and  tedious  one  to 
Lord  Dunmoor.  There  were  no  little  stockings 
hanging  under  the  mantlepiece.  He  had  not 
felt  called  upon  to  patronize  the  shops  in  Dun- 
moor and  buy  presents  for  his  servants.  No,  it 
was  much  easier  to  put  money  in  envelopes  and 
give  them  to  Rooth,  his  butler,  to  distribute. 
When  he  awoke  in  the  morning,  there  had  been 
no  cheerful  salutation  of  "  Merry  Christmas," 


238  THE  TOYMAKERS 

and  there  was  no  occasion  for  his  lips  to  so  shape 
themselves  as  to  utter  the  words.  He  read  some 
and  then  walked  out  upon  the  terrace;  but  the 
air  was  chilly,  and  he  soon  returned  to  the  li- 
brary with  its  cheerful  fire.  Impelled  by  a  curi- 
osity which  he  could  not  have  explained,  he  went 
upstairs  and  entered  the  room  in  which  the  pre- 
vious Lord  Dunmoor  had  died.  In  one  corner 
stood  an  old-fashioned  desk.  With  no  particular 
object  in  view,  he  opened  drawer  after  drawer 
and  looked  the  contents  over.  In  one  he  found 
a  large  key,  to  wthch  a  card  was  attached.  On 
the  card  was  written  a  word  which  might  have 
been  read  "  Beer  "  or  "  Bear." 

"Now,  what  door  can  that  fit?"  he  solilo- 
quized. "  Keys  are  not  made  except  to  fit  locks." 
He  took  the  key  and  visited  every  locked  room  in 
the  Castle.  Not  more  than  a  third  of  the  rooms 
were  in  actual  use,  and  those  that  were  not  in 
service  had  been  locked  up.  The  key  would  not  fit 
any  of  them.  Then  he  thought  of  the  tower. 

"  I  don't  think  there's  a  room  up  there,  but 
I'll  go  and  see." 

A  long,  steep  flight  of  stairs  led  up  to  the 


THE  TOYMAKERS  239 

tower.  When  he  reached  it,  he  saw  from  its 
shape  that  there  could  be  no  large  room  leading 
from  it;  but  there  was  a  door,  and  the  old  key 
fitted  the  lock.  It  was  very  hard  to  turn  the  key, 
but  he  was  at  last  successful.  The  door  grated 
on  its  rusted  hinges  as  he  pulled  it  open.  There 
was  no  room,  but  a  closet  the  back  of  which  con- 
formed to  the  circular  shape  of  the  tower.  There 
was  nothing  in  the  closet  but  a  stuffed  bear! 
He  knew  that  it  could  not  be  alive,  for  the  closet 
must  have  been  locked  for  months,  and  if  it 
had  been,  it  would  have  suffocated  long  ago.  It 
was  an  example  of  the  taxidermist's  art.  He 
determined  to  take  it  to  his  room  and  examine  it 
more  carefully,  so  he  removed  it  from  the  closet 
and  closed  and  locked  the  door.  Then  he  re- 
flected that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  take  the 
bear,  which  stood  four  feet  high,  in  his  arms  and 
go  down  the  steep  stairs.  He  did  not  propose 
to  risk  a  fall,  so  he  went  to  his  room,  called  the 
butler,  and  sent  him  for  a  coil  of  rope.  The 
astonished  servant  soon  returned  with  it,  prob- 
ably speculating  that  his  master  contemplated 
suicide. 


240  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Lord  Dunmoor  returned  to  the  tower,  tied  the 
rope  about  the  bear,  and  lowered  it  down  to  the 
foot  of  the  stairs.  In  a  short  time  he  had  it  in 
his  room.  He  locked  the  door  so  that  he  could 
contemplate  his  new  acquisition  at  his  leisure. 
He  was  soon  disturbed,  however,  by  a  knock,  and 
Kooth  presented  Captain  Sabreton's  card.  Lord 
Dunmoor  concealed  the  bear  behind  a  flowing 
portiere. 

"  Ah,  Captain,  glad  to  see  you." 

When  Lord  Dunmoor  said  this,  he  was  truly 
glad;  at  the  same  time,  there  was  a  slight  feeling 
of  disappointment  that  he  was  not  able  to  con- 
tinue his  examination  of  the  bear. 

"  Sorry  you  didn't  come  to  the  ball  last  even- 
ing, my  lord.  We  had  a  splendid  time.  The  most 
successful  affair  with  which  our  garrison  has 
ever  been  connected.  The  beauty,  and  the  brains, 
and  the  wealth  of  the  county  were  present,  with 
one  notable  exception,"  and  he  bowed  low. 

"  Ah,  thank  you,  Captain.  I  did  intend  to  go, 
but  I  became  interested  in  a  book  of  travels  in 
Egypt,  and  as  it  told  about  ground  which  I  have 
been  over  many  times,  I  will  be  honest  and  ac- 


THE  TOYMAKERS  241 

knowledge  that  I  forgot  all  about  you  until  it 
was  too  late  to  dress.  I  presume  your  lady  love 
was  there?  " 

"  No ;  I  wished  her  to  go,  but  I  could  not  in- 
duce her  to  do  so.  There  are  reasons,  of  course, 
which  you  and  I  understand — " 

"  Pardon  me,  Captain,  for  what  I  am  going 
to  say.  You  know  I  am  your  friend." 

"  You  have  always  shown  yourself  to  be  so, 
my  lord." 

"  I  hope  I  may  some  day  prove  to  be  a  better 
one  than  I  have  yet  been.  But  I  am  going  to  ask 
you  a  question,  and  I  know  you  will  not  be 
offended.  I  have  no  doubt  that  if  you  were 
financially  able  to  do  so  that  you  would  marry 
her.  Is  it  not  so?  " 

The  Captain  nodded. 

Lord  Dunmoor  continued  :  "  You  know  what 
she  is,  and  I  agree  with  you  that  she  is  a  most 
attractive,  lovable  woman;  but  do  you  think  it 
is  advisable —  do  you  think  it  is  safe — to  marry 
her  until  you  know  icho  she  is?  " 

"  I  shall  answer  you,"  said  Captain  Sabreton, 
<;  as  the  lover  does  in  the  melodrama :  I  do  not 


242  THE  TOYMAKERS 

care  what  her  name  is,  or  from  where  she  sprang ; 
I  love  the  woman,  and  it  is  the  woman  whom 
I  would  make  my  wife." 

"  My  dear  Captain,  you  are  beyond  the  reach 
of  argument,  and  I  will  not  indulge  in  expostula- 
tion. Now,  I  have  something  interesting  to  show 
you.  I  have  been  making  a  search  through  the 
old  rooms  of  the  Castle  and  I  have  made  a  find. 
What  do  you  think  of  that?  "  As  he  spoke  he 
threw  aside  the  portiere  and  disclosed  the  stuffed 
bear. 

"Ah!"  said  the  Captain.  "Quite  a  large 
beast.  Probably  one  you  shot  during  your 
travels,  and  you  had  it  stuffed  and  brought  it 
home  as  a  memento  of  an  exciting  occasion." 

"  That  is  a  natural  inference,"  said  Lord  Dun- 
moor,  "  but  it  is  not  the  fact.  I  found  an  old 
key  in  my  cousin's  desk  and  I  hunted  all  over 
the  Castle  until  I  found  a  door  that  it  would  fit. 
The  door  belonged  to  a  closet,  and  in  that  closet 
I  found  Mr.  Bruin.  Since  my  discovery,  I  have 
been  ransacking  my  brain  to  know  why  my 
cousin,  the  late  Lord,  should  have  locked  that 
bear  up  in  that  closet,  and  yet  it  occurs  to  me 


THE  TOYMAKERS  243 

that  my  butler,  Old  Rooth,  once  told  me  that 
when  Lord  Dunmoor  was  on  his  deathbed  he 
celled  for  beer.  He  had  always  been  partial  to 
that  beverage,  and  a  glass  of  the  best  brew  was 
brought  to  him.  Instead  of  drinking  it,  he 
pushed  it  away,  and  the  contents  of  the  glass 
were  thrown  all  over  the  bed.  He  seemed  to  be 
angry  that  his  wish  had  not  been  understood, 
but  a  moment  later  he  fell  back  in  a  swoon,  from 
which  he  never  recovered,  and  died  a  short  time 
afterwards." 

Military  men  are  obliged  to  be  acute.  They 
are  forced  to  take  advantage  of  circumstances 
and  to  decide  quickly.  There  was  no  previous 
mental  evolution  on  the  part  of  Captain  Sabre- 
ton,  but  as  soon  as  Lord  Dunmoor  had  finished, 
he  remarked  quickly :  "  Perhaps  he  said,  *  bear.' 
Was  there  a  will?" 

"  His  solicitor,  Mr.  Allardyce,  said  there  was 
one,  he  understood,  but  he  did  not  draw  it  up. 
However,  it  was  never  found." 

"  Well,"  said  the  Captain,  with  a  laugh,  "  you 
have  often  told  me  that  you  read  nothing  but 
works  of  travel.  Now,  I  read  nothing  but  works 


244  THE  TOYMAKERS 

of  fiction,  and  in  many  of  them  I  find  an  eccen- 
tric old  fellow,  usually  a  duke  or  an  earl,  who 
makes  out  a  will  and  hides  it.  This  is  only  a 
guess  on  my  part,  but  perhaps  Lord  Dunmoor's 
will  is  inside  of  that  hear." 

"  By  George !  "  cried  Lord  Dunmoor.  "  You're 
right!  At  any  rate  we  can  soon  find  out.  I 
must  get  a  knife." 

"  Will  this  do?  "  asked  Captain  Sabreton,  and 
he  drew  from  inside  of  his  blouse  a  short,  sharp- 
pointed  dagger.  "  I  always  carry  this  with  me, 
my  lord,  when  I  wear  my  undress  uniform,  for 
some  of  the  boys  have  got  into  trouble  nights 
when  they  were  going  home  late,  and  it  is  well 
to  have  some  weapon  of  defence.  I  do  not  be- 
lieve in  carrying  a  pistol,  for  one  is  too  prone 
to  use  it  at  the  slightest  provocation.  The  sight 
of  a  knife,  however,  will  often  repel  an  attack 
without  loss  of  life  or  injury  on  either  side." 

It  took  but  a  few  moments  to  cut  away  the 
stitches,  for  the  thread  was  old  and  virtually 
rotten.  Their  search  was  rewarded  by  the  dis- 
covery of  two  documents,  one  of  which  was  the 
will  of  the  late  Lord  Dunmoor,  and  the  other 


THE  TOYMAKERS  245 

some  closely  written  sheets,  tied  with  a  faded 
blue  ribbon,  and  endorsed  in  the  old  Lord's 
handwriting  "  An  Event  in  my  Life." 

"  Read  this  one  first,  my  dear  Captain,"  said 
Lord  Dunmoor,  as  he  threw  himself  into  an 
easy-chair  and  lighted  a  cigar.  "  If  you  can 
smoke  and  read  at  the  same  time,  help  yourself," 
and  he  pushed  the  box  towards  him.  "  We  will 
read  the  '  Event '  before  we  read  the  will." 

Lord  Dunmoor's  story  may  be  told  briefly,  al- 
though he  had  taken  many  pages.  He  had  made 
a  mesalliance.  He  had  fallen  in  love  with  the 
daughter  of  an  inn-keeper,  whose  hostelry  was 
a  few  miles  from  Dunmoor  Castle.  She  was  a 
very  pretty,  uneducated,  English  country  girl. 
He  did  not  dare  to  brave  public  opinion,  and  so 
he  induced  the  girl  to  elope  with  him,  and  they 
went  to  France.  Her  name  was  Ruth  Dunn. 
While  in  France  he  had  gone  by  the  name  of 
Herbert  Moore.  Soon  after  the  birth  of  his 
daughter  Ruth,  his  wife  sickened  and  died.  He 
placed  the  little  girl  in  the  charge  of  an  English 
family,  but  without  disclosing  her  identity,  and 
made  provision  for  her  early  education.  He  had 


246  THE  TOYMAKERS 

returned  to  England  at  the  death  of  his  father, 
assumed  the  title,  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
the  Castle.  Whether  he  had  ever  contemplated 
sending  for  his  daughter,  the  document  did  not 
say. 

"  I  am  not  surprised,"  said  Lord  Dunmoor, 
when  Captain  Sabreton  had  finished  reading. 
"  I  came  here  to  see  him  a  few  years  before  his 
death  and  he  seemed  to  be  a  very  unhappy  man." 
He  sighed.  "  I  think  it  runs  in  the  family. 
Now,  Captain,  let  us  hear  what  the  will  says. 
But  before  you  read  it,  let  me  say  that  I  hope  he 
has  given  away  the  greater  part  of  his  money. 
I  would  rather  face  a  lion  in  the  desert  with  but 
one  shot  in  my  rifle,  than  be  tied  to  this  Castle 
for  life  and  have  the  charge  of  so  much  money. 
To  whom  can  I  leave  it?  I  shall  not  marry,  and 
I  know  of  no  near  relative.  Perhaps  some  day 
the  whole  estate  will  go  into  chancery  and  finally 
escheat  to  the  crown.  Perhaps  it  is  just  as 
well.  But  go  on,  Captain;  read  the  will." 

Its  provisions  were  simple.  One  hundred 
pounds  to  his  faithful  butler,  Peter  Rooth,  and 
many  smaller  bequests  to  other  faithful  servants. 


THE  TOYMAKERS  247 

Five  hundred  pounds  to  his  solicitor,  Mr.  Simon 
Allardyce,  and  a  like  sum  to  his  tailor,  Mr. 
Tobias  Whackers. 

"  This  is  getting  interesting,"  said  Lord  Dun- 
moor  with  a  laugh.  "  But  I  think  he  is  rather 
parsimonious.  He  should  have  made  them 
larger." 

The  Captain  hesitated. 

"  Go  on,  Captain.  You  have  not  come  to  the 
end,  have  you?  " 

The  Captain's  face  was  flushed  and  his  lips 
trembled. 

"  Go  on !  "  cried  Lord  Dunmoor.  "  I  hope  he 
didn't  forget  his  daughter." 

"  No,"  said  the  Captain,  with  an  effort,  "  the 
next  item  is :  '  Fifty  thousand  pounds  to  be 
given  outright  to  my  daughter  Ruth.  The  bal- 
ance of  my  estate,  both  real  and  personal,  to 
my  cousin,  Ralph  Crowders,  who  is  next  in  line 
and  will  succeed  to  the  title.' " 

Lord  Dunmoor  sprang  to  his  feet.  "  My  dear 
Captain,  his  daughter  shall  have  the  money.  I 
wish  he  had  given  her  more.  I  am  a  rover  by 
inclination  and  habit.  I  love  to  travel.  I  have 


248  THE  TOYMAKERS 

never  been  happy  since  I  came  to  live  in  this 
Castle.  I  have  always  felt  as  though  it  was  a 
prison.  But  now  I  see  a  chance  to  free  myself, 
and  you  are  the  cause  of  my  delivery." 

"  I  don't  quite  understand,"  stammered  the 
Captain. 

"  I  will  make  it  plain  to  you,"  said  Lord  Dun- 
moor.  "  My  advice  is,  as  a  friend,  do  just  as  I 
tell  you.  Sell  out  your  captaincy  at  once,  marry 
Kuth,  come  and  take  charge  of  this  old  Castle 
for  me,  have  your  friends  come,  and  instead  of 
the  gloom  which  has  surrounded  it  for  so  many 
years,  fill  it  with  laughter  and  the  sound  of  merry 
voices.  As  soon  as  you  are  married,  I  shall  pack 
my  traveling-bag  and  hie  me  forth  to  the 
pleasures  of  old.  I  may  never  come  back,  but 
before  I  go  I  shall  arrange  it  that  in  case  I  do  not 
return,  all  I  leave  behind  me  shall  be  hers  and 
yours.  Horatio,  for  the  first  time  since  I  came 
to  the  Castle,  I  am  a  satisfied  man,  but  when  I 
get  to  Africa  I  shall  be  more — I  shall  be  a  happy 
man." 


THE  TOYMAKERS  249 


CHAPTER  XXX 

JOHN  B.  STUBBS,  SON,  &  CO. 

AFTER  being  driven  from  home,  Sally  was  wel- 
comed by  Grandpa  and  Grandma  Larkin,  for 
Daisy's  wishes  were  law  to  them.  Tom  and 
Johnnie  found  a  good  friend  in  Mr.  Quinn,  for, 
to  their  credit  be  it  said,  they  had  never  been 
among  his  tormentors. 

Mr.  Stubbs  returned  from  Squire  Goldfish's 
improvised  court  in  a  subdued  frame  of  mind. 
What  a  change  had  taken  place  in  a  single  day ! 
He  had  regarded  himself  as  one  of  the  leading 
citizens'  in  Middleton-on-Quick,  but  his  foolish 
experience  had  led  to  an  outburst  of  passion  by 
which  he  had  lowered,  himself  in  the  estimation 
of  all.  He  had.  driven  his  own  flesh  and  blood 
from  his  door — and  why?  Because  he  himself 
had  failed  to  carry  out  a  cherished  but,  as  he 
saw  now,  a  foolish,  impossible  scheme.  They  had 


250  THE  TOYMAKERS 

been  made  to  suffer,  not  for  their  own  fault, 
but  for  his.  How  should  he  redeem  himself,  and 
regain  his  old  footing?  His  conscience  spoke 
loud  and  clear — Do  the  Right!  But  what  was 
"  the  right?  "  Tom  must  have  his  money  and  the 
profits  due  him.  The  Squire  had  settled  that, 
for  he  would  not  appeal  from  his  decision.  That 
affair  was  settled.  Sally  was  an  heiress — no 
longer  his  scullion.  He  was  ashamed  that  he  had 
called  Mr.  Eales's  niece  by  such  a  name — but  he 
had  not  known  her  origin.  She  had  been  a  name- 
less waif  when  she  came  to  him — conscience  said 
she  was  poor  and  friendless,  and  you  should 
have  tried  to  uplift  her  instead  of  crowding  her 
down.  He  felt  that  he  had  been  a  wicked  old 
man,  but  he  would  make  amends. 

"  Come,  Johnnie,  we  have  a  visit  to  make." 
His  son  followed  him  without  a  word  of  ques- 
tioning.   His  father's  disgrace  had  silenced  his 
tongue  and  quenched  his  usual  flow  of  uncon- 
scious, and  therefore,  natural  humor. 

Mr.  Stubbs  knocked  at  Grandpa  Larkin's  door. 
Toby's  resonant  bark  drew  both  Daisy  and  Sally 
to  the  door.  They  were  both  astonished  when 


THE  TOYMAKERS  251 

they  recognized  their  visitors,  but  they  were 
welcomed  cordially  by  all,  not  excepting  Tom, 
who  was  too  elated  by  his  good  fortune  to  bear 
enmity  against  the  one  from  whom  it  came. 

"  I  am  a  man  of  few  words,"  said  Mr.  Stubbs. 
"  The  law  has  righted  one  wrong,  and  death  the 
other.  I  have  thought  it  all  over.  Tom  loves 
Daisy  and  he  has  my  consent,  if  he  'thinks  he 
needs  it,  to  marry  her.  My  son  Johnnie  loves 
Sally,  and  I  will  welcome  her  as  a  daughter.  No 
thanks  to  me,  after  all,  for  this,  for  you  could 
all  do  as  you  pleased  without  my  consent.  But 
one  thing  I  can  do,  and  will.  On  New  Year's 
day  I  will  take  Johnnie  and  Tom  into  partner- 
ship with  me,  and  the  proprietors  of  the  little 
red  mill  will  be — 

JOHN  B.  STUBBS,  SON,  &  COMPANY." 

Our  story  is  nearly  told.  Of  course,  Captain 
Sabreton  sold  his  commission,  married  the  little 
milliner,  filled  the  old  Castle  with  guests  and 
gayety,  while  Boots  drove  the  peacocks  from  the 
terrace  and  made  it  his  own  preserve. 


252  THE  TOYMAKERS 

Mr.  Toby  Whackers  caught  the  matrimonial 
fever,  and  Miss  Jennie  Jamieson  Jones  became 
Mrs.  Whackers. 

"  What  am  I,  Toby?  "  she  asked,  as  they  en- 
tered their  home  after  the  ceremony,  and  he  an- 
swered : 

"  You  are  my  little  goose !  " 

Mr.  Quinn's  accident  unfitted  him  for  his 
duties  as  constable,  and  he  resigned  his  position 
to  become  Dr.  Bunch's  right-hand  man,  his  prin- 
cipal duty  being  to  compound  drugs  to  cure  the 
small  boys  who  had  troubled  him  so  in  the  past. 

Mrs.  Hadley  Goldfish,  formerly  Mrs.  Margaret 
Merrily,  put  on  widow's  weeds.  She  removed 
Mrs.  Squire  Goldfish's  fears  of  an  unwelcome 
intrusion  by  buying  Mrs.  Sabreton's  millinery 
shop  and  carrying  it  on  with  her  dressmaking 
establishment,  at  the  same  time  announcing  to 
her  patrons  that  her  shop  and  her  residence 
would  continue  to  be  in  the  same  building.  Mrs. 
Squire  Goldfish,  though  re-assured,  remained 
frigid  until  her  husband's  sister-in-law,  as  she 
had  always  called  her  to  her  associates,  suggested 
that  she  had  a  beautiful  dress  and  a  lovely  bon- 


THE  TOYMAKERS  253 

net  from  London  that  would  exactly  suit  a 
Squire's  wife.  It  was  not  a  simple  victory — it 
was  a  conquest,  and  after  Mrs.  Squire  Goldfish 
had  caused  every  neck  in  the  village  church  to 
turn  and  behold  her  new  finery,  she  told  Mrs. 
Brythe-Wardner,  her  most  intimate  friend,  that 
"  Sister  Margaret  was  a  perfect  jewel." 

If  we  could  look  into  two  homes'  in  Middleton- 
on-Quick,  we  should  find  Mrs.  Thomas  Bright 
and  Mrs.  John  B.  Stubbs,  Jr.,  engaged  in  house- 
keeping duties.  Mr.  Bright  and  Mr.  Stubbs,  Jr., 
would  be  discovered  packing  boxes  of  toys  for 
the  London  market,  or  making  entries  of  sales. 
By  the  fire  in  the  "  best  room  "  we  should  see 
Mr.  Stubbs,  Sr.,  in  his  easy-chair,  placidly  smok- 
ing his  pipe  and  listening,  with  a  smile  on  his 
rugged  old  face,  to  the  voices  of  the  toymakers 
singing  at  their  work. 


THE  END. 


READ  THE  BOOK  AND  SEE  THE  PLAY 


Blennerhassett 

By  CHARLES  FELTON  PIDGIN 
The  Author  of  "  Quincy  Adams  Sawyer" 

A  VIGOROUS,  VIVID,   MASTERFUL  ROMANCE. 

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dtdamy  Sawyer 


by  CHARLES  FELTON  PIDGIN 

Author   of    Blennerhassett 

A  RATTLING  GOOD  HOMESPUN  TALE 

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Transcript 


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By     FRANCES     PARKER 
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